What is Hallmark Gold and How to Check its Authenticity

Purchasing gold in India, whether for personal adornment, gifting, or investment, is a deeply ingrained tradition. However, the quality of gold one buys is of utmost importance. Here lies the significance of Hallmark Gold. To ensure you get the purest form of this precious metal, it’s crucial to know about Hallmark Gold and how to check its authenticity.

What is Hallmark Gold?

Hallmark Gold refers to the gold that has been certified for purity by one of the Assaying and Hallmarking centres in India. These centres are recognized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the national Standards Body of India, tasked with ensuring the purity of gold and silver articles.

The BIS hallmarking scheme for gold jewelry began in April 2000. The scheme certifies that the piece of jewelry conforms to a set of standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national standards organization of India. By buying BIS Hallmarked gold, you can ensure you are purchasing gold of the highest quality and purity.

You can check the Gold rate today to have an idea about the current market price of gold before purchasing.

Why is Hallmarking Important?

Hallmarking serves as a safeguard for purchasers of gold and silver articles, ensuring that the metal conforms to the national and international standard of fineness and purity. Here are some reasons why hallmarking is important:

• It guarantees the purity of the gold.
• It protects the consumer against victimization due to irregular gold quality.
• It obliges manufacturers to maintain legal standards of purity.

How to Identify Hallmarked Gold?

Hallmarked Gold comes with a distinct mark or set of marks. These marks indicate the purity of the gold, the assay center, the jeweler, and the year of marking. Here’s what they mean:

• BIS Mark: The BIS logo is a unique sign of the Bureau of Indian Standards, and it’s the first thing you should look for.
• Purity Grade: This indicates the purity of the gold. For instance, ‘916’ implies the piece is 22 karats gold (91.6% pure gold), while ‘995’ and ‘999’ refer to 24 karats gold (99.5% and 99.9% pure gold, respectively).
• Assaying and Hallmarking Centre’s Mark: This is the logo of the center where the gold has been assessed.
• Jeweler’s Mark: This is the unique identification mark of the jeweler.
• Year of Hallmarking: A code letter represents the year of hallmarking. For example, ‘R’ denotes 2020, and ‘S’ denotes 2021.

How to Check the Authenticity of Hallmarked Gold?

To verify the authenticity of Hallmarked Gold, you need to look for the aforementioned identification marks. However, there are few additional steps you can take:

1. Check the Hallmarking: Always look for the BIS mark on the jewelry. A genuine Hallmarked Gold piece will have all the five marks mentioned earlier.
2. Use a Magnifying Glass: Some of the Hallmark signs are tiny and may require a magnifying glass to see clearly.
3. Ask for Certificate: Always ask for a certificate of authenticity when purchasing gold jewelry. Make sure the certificate is from a recognized BIS authorized Assaying and Hallmarking centre.
4. Verify Online: You can verify the license of the jeweler on the BIS website.

Remember, Hallmarked Gold is not just a piece of jewelry. It’s an assurance of quality and a testament to the purity of the precious metal you’re investing in.

Before we conclude, it’s important to mention that the price of Hallmarked Gold may vary according to the karat and the current gold market rate. To stay updated, you can check live 22K & 24K prices. However, this information is for informational purposes only.

Remember, investing in gold is not just about purchasing a beautiful piece of jewelry. It’s about making a sound financial decision that can yield significant returns in the future. Thus, always ensure to check the authenticity of the gold you buy.