How to Check BIS Hallmark and HUID on Gold Jewellery

Look for three marks on gold jewellery: the BIS logo, the purity in carat and fineness, and a six-character HUID code. Then open the BIS Care app, tap Verify HUID, and enter the code. The app shows the details recorded for that piece, so you can match them to your bill.

This guide explains what each mark means, the steps in the app, and the limits of the check. Thahir Jewellers sells BIS hallmarked gold with HUID, and these are the same checks we would do ourselves.

What marks should gold jewellery carry?

Hallmarked gold jewellery carries three marks. The BIS FAQ page lists them as the BIS Standard Mark, the purity in carat and fineness, and the six-digit HUID number. A jeweller may add their own mark as well.

The marks are tiny, so look at them with a magnifier or the phone camera zoomed in. One guide we read describes the HUID as six letters and numbers mixed, for example a code like A1B2C3. It gave 916 as the fineness mark for 22K gold.

How to verify HUID in the BIS Care app

Open the BIS Care app, choose Verify HUID, and type the six-character code from your piece. The BIS FAQ page says any customer can verify a HUID this way.

1. Install the BIS Care app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Check that the publisher is the Bureau of Indian Standards.
2. Log in. One guide says the app asks you to register with your mobile number and an OTP.
3. Tap Verify HUID on the home screen.
4. Enter the six-character code stamped on the jewellery and search. You need an internet connection.
5. Read the result and match it to the piece in your hand and to the bill.

Screens can change when the app is updated, so follow the words on the screen if they differ from the steps above.

What the app tells you

The result shows the details that were recorded when the piece was hallmarked. According to the guide we read, this includes the purity grade, the jeweller's BIS registration number, the name of the assaying and hallmarking centre, the date and the type of article.

Match each detail to what is in front of you. A ring should show up as a ring and 22K gold as 22K. If the result says a different article or purity, ask the jeweller to explain before you pay.

The same guide notes that the app shows the registration number of the jeweller and not the shop name. The BIS FAQ page says a supplier's registration details can be looked up on manakonline.in, so you can check that the number belongs to the shop you are standing in.

What the check does not cover

The check confirms that a code exists and gives the recorded details. It does not tell you whether the price is fair, and it does not replace a proper bill.

• Price depends on the day's gold rate, making charges and GST, none of which the app shows.
• The BIS FAQ says the order covers gold jewellery and artefacts, and does not cover bullion or coins.
• Exemptions exist for articles under two grams and for jewellers with annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh, in districts covered by the order.
• The BIS FAQ says mentioning the HUID on the invoice is voluntary at present, so ask the shop to write it on the bill anyway.

Older gold bought before HUID began may only have the BIS logo and purity mark. If you plan to sell old gold, ask the buyer how they test it.

Checks to do in the shop before you pay

Do the checks at the counter, before billing. It is much easier to sort out a mismatch there than after you reach home.

• Find all three marks with a magnifier.
• Verify the HUID on your own phone while standing at the counter.
• Compare the weight on the bill with the weight on the scale.
• Ask for the gold rate for the day, the making charge and the GST shown as separate lines.
• Keep the bill, and take a photo of the hallmark.

Buying gold in Thanjavur and Trichy

Our 22K pieces are BIS hallmarked with HUID, and you can try the app check on any of them. Examples are the 22K Gold Chain at 8 g, the 22K Ladies Gold Ring at 3 g and the 22K Gold Studs at 2 g. Sample prices change daily with the gold rate, and the shop confirms the figure on WhatsApp.

You can browse the gold jewellery category, or read about gold jewellery in Thanjavur and gold jewellery in Trichy. If you have old gold or silver to sell, see selling old gold and silver in Thanjavur.

Sources

• Bureau of Indian Standards, Hallmarking FAQs for jewellers
• IIFL, How to verify HUID on gold jewellery in India (BIS Care app guide)

Buy in Thanjavur or order on WhatsApp

Visit Thahir Jewellers at 25 Sriram Nagar, Madhakottai Road, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu 613005, or message +91 97898 76860 on WhatsApp. Ask for the piece you like, and the shop will confirm the weight, today's rate and the HUID before you pay. Use the quote form if you prefer.