Transform your jewelry business with guaranteed purity certification. Your reputation depends on trust if you are a gold and silver jewelry manufacturer or seller.
That’s why Diligence Certifications offers flawless hallmark registration services to validate your precious creations.
In ancient times, gold held a strong charm for Indians, serving not only as a precious metal but also as a popular investment for financial security. To safeguard buyers against any impurity and to ensure that jewelers adhere to purity standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards-BIS established a Jeweller Registration Scheme.
These measures include the Gold Hallmarking Scheme which was initiated in 2000 and the Silver Hallmarking Scheme of A&H which was started in 2005, under which BIS Hallmark License is mandatory for Manufacturing and Selling Gold or Silver ornaments.
Over the last three years, there has been a growth of about 18% in registered jewelers, while registered Assaying and Hallmarking have been seeing an increase of about 25% on average annually.
Under the Scheme, BIS Hallmark Registration is mandatory for Selling or Manufacturing Gold and Silver Jewellery. This requirement exists because visual inspection alone cannot determine the purity of Gold.
BIS Hallmark Registration addresses this issue by offering essential information and verifying the gold’s purity, thereby easing concerns about authenticity.
Without proper examination, it is not possible to recognize the purity of gold only by touching or seeing it. While two likely identical BIS Hallmark Gold ornaments might vary completely in Gold purity. BIS Hallmark Registration rectifies these concerns by assuring transparency and purifying the gold’s actual purity.
A hallmark signifies the official stamp or series of stamps affixed to metal items, generally to assess their content in precious metals such as platinum, gold, silver, and pallidum, according to the law in many countries.
In India, the hallmarking scheme for gold and silver has been established by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), where actual hallmarking must be done by BIS Hallmarking to ensure pureness.
The major objective of BIS hallmarking is to protect consumers against adulteration in precious metals (Gold/Silver) and to ensure manufacturers’ conformance to legal standards of fineness currently being used, focusing only on Gold and Silver in India. This is in line with international hallmarking.
Jewelry marking is conducted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for hallmarking purposes to jewelers who can get their jewelry hallmarked at any BIS-recognized hallmarking center.
| For Consurmer: | For Jewellers: |
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Guarantee of Purity
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Enhanced Reputation and credibility
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Protection against Adulteration |
Increased Customer Trust
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Trust and confidence
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Competitive Advantage
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Resale value
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Compliance with Regulations |
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Standardized Assessment
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Facilitates Exports
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Grievance Redressal
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Business Growth
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Five different elements or marks were present on previously used gold items marked with the BIS Hallmark. The hallmarking was done using the old method. This hallmark stamping indicates the conformity of such gold to purity standards specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
BIS Mark Standard or BIS Logo: BIS Mark Standard or BIS logo is a triangular symbol assuring the purity of Gold or Silver. It signifies that an independent assessor has evaluated the item and confirmed the metal’s fineness, a process usually performed by a BIS-approved hallmarking center. BIS is the only government-authorized agency for gold jewelry hallmarking.
Purity Grade: A measure of purity uses karats (KT) and fineness numbers denoting the purity of gold. Pure gold is known as 24KT; it’s too soft to be used as jewelry or ornamental purposes. And so to increase durability, gold is allied with other metals in this case zinc or silver.
The gold jewelry can have different purities ranging from 14k to 22k. Take 22k gold for example: usually hallmarked with a 916 mark, this means it is made of 91.6% pure gold with 8.4% alloyed with some other metals. Similarly, jewelry in 18k and 14k gold is designated by fine numbers of 750 and 585, respectively.
Hallmarking Center’s Mark: The BIS licensing trademark (Hallmarking License), belonging to the marking center or third-party evaluator, gets marked on each product. This mark gets checked for gold and silver purity and enables tracing back to the center in case of any inconsistencies later.
Year of Marking: These indicate the year of marking or assaying of the object. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) assigns one letter representing the year in which this marking is done-for example, “A” for the year 2000, “B” for the year 2001, and so on.
Jeweller Mark: The marker identifies the jeweler or manufacturer. Jewelers accredited with BIS benefit from the addition of a unique BIS hallmark logo to their creations. These marks are visible on the jewelry and can be used for purity measurement.
New method used in Hallmarking in Gold: In the gold quality assurance sector, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has implemented a new hallmarking system based on a unique identification number (UID) in support of the standard BIS hallmark as well as the purity of gold.
At last mandatory hallmarking of gold ornaments and artifacts has become applicable at all India level from 2019. Hallmark gold jewelry is, therefore, sold by registered jewellers through certified outlets only in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 5 of the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018.Consumers can search for licensed jewelers by state or region and IS number.
For the selling of Hallmarked gold articles or jewellery, the jeweller requires Hallmarking Registration with the BIS for each sales outlet. The registration is location-specific and requires the applicant to fill out all forms and documentary requirements, pay the prescribed fees, and sign the license agreement. A separate registration is required for Hallmarked sales of silver jewellery/artefacts.
The jewellers will be bound under the contract when registered. Specific violations like deviations in the purity of precious metal or deviation from specifications are grounds for cancellation of the license and imposition of penalty proceedings against the jeweller by BIS.
There are unannounced inspections by BIS at periodic intervals during which samples of Hallmarked goods may be taken for testing at its referral assay laboratories. Any failure of the sample to meet the concerned standard shall hold both the jeweller as well as the center for assaying and hallmarking responsible.
There are two BIS Hallmarking Registration Certifications in India.
| Forms | Description |
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Form-I
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This form is used for the Application for Grant of Certificate of Registration to jewellers for sales of Hallmarked Articles
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Form-IV
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Application for Recognition of Assaying and Hallmarking Centre under IS 15820
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Form V
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Affidavit cum undertaking to be submitted by Assaying and Hallmarking Centre for BIS Recognition
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Form VII
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Application of Renewal of Recognition and Hallmarking Centre per IS 15820
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Form VIII
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Application for Grant of License to use the Hallmark
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Form XIII
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Application for Renewal of License
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Schedule-II
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Fee for Grant and Renewal of Recognition of Assaying and Hallmarking Centre
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Schedule-V
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Fee for Grant and Renewal of License to Refinery or Min
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Note: Any registration made through the online portal by a firm or individual ineligible for Hallmark Registration Certificate would be cancelled by BIS.
Jewelers seeking hallmark registration must submit the following documents:
Although selling pre-hallmarked jewellery is the retailer’s or jeweller’s responsibility, judging the gold’s purity and quality has to be done by the hallmark centre.
Essentially, these centres are BIS-licensed trademarks of marking centres or independent evaluators. The items are tested for purity and then stamped, enabling tracing back to the centre in case discrepancies arise later.
Such facilities, as opposed to the testing laboratories, are strategically located in the city or busy commercial neighbourhoods in the vicinity of jewellery hubs and markets. This hallmarking is done on gold or silver jewellery/artefacts.
Assaying is quantitative chemical analysis of precious metals; thus, it means ascertaining the gold content in jewellery or some other product.
Assaying and Hallmarking Process:
The assaying and hallmarking of gold or silver jewellery/artefacts are done in the following steps:
Diligence Certifications and their legal dedicated team will help you to obtaining BIS Hallmark Certificate. With our years of experience, in depth knowledge of Hallmarking Standards, and commitment to excellence.
Let’s get your hallmarking certification started! Call us today.
BIS Hallmark Registration lays down the entrance criteria for certification by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for all jewellers venturing into the manufacture or sale of gold jewellery in India. This assures the customers that the purity and fineness of the gold jewellery meet the standards prescribed by the BIS. The hallmark thus provides the third-party assurance on the quality of the gold.
The significance lies in the following points:
Consumer Protection: Guarantees the purity of gold as a shield against fraudulent practices and adulteration.
Legal Requirement: Under Indian law, sale of gold jewellery is prohibited without an authentic BIS Hallmark.
Brand Reputation: Gaining consumer trust and building the credibility of your brand.
Market Access: Ensure compliance and sell gold jewellery legally across the Indian territory..
Every jeweller who makes, sells, or offers to sell gold jewellery in India requires BIS Hallmark Registration. That encompasses retail sellers, wholesale dealers, and manufacturers.
Benefits include:
Purity guaranteed: Keeps the fineness of gold (like 916 for 22K, 750 for 18K) secure.
Trust for the consumer: Gives better confidence and retention to the consumer.
Legally awarded: Makes sure you are in line with the laws.
Edge over Competition: Gives you an edge over non-registered jewellers.
Promotes better resale value: Hallmarked jewellery gets better resale value usually.
The steps include:
Application Form: Fill a comprehensive application (Form V) and send it to the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Document Submission: Submission of the requisite documents (see below).
Premises Inspection: The Bureau of Indian Standards conducts the inspection of your premises.
Agreement Signing: Signing of the agreement with BIS.
Registration Fee Payment: Payment of BIS Hallmark Registration Fees.
Registration Grant: A successful candidate will receive the BIS Hallmark Registration Certificate.
Usually, you would need:
An identity proof (for instance, Aadhaar Card, PAN Card)
An address proof (for instance, utility bill, rent agreement)
Proof for the business registration (for instance, Partnership Deed, Company Incorporation Certificate)
GST Registration
Proof for the premises (ownership/rental Agreement)
Layout plan of the premises
List of Assaying and Hallmarking Equipment
For a BIS Hallmark License in India, a jeweler must fulfill the eligibility criteria of having a registered business along with a physical store or showroom. The collection of documents such as: business registration proof (GST, Shop Act License), the PAN & Aadhaar card of the owner, store's address proof, and jewelry item names for hallmarking forms the start of the application process.
The fees vary from one to another depending on the organization and the type of registration meant. The fees comprise registration fee, annual fee, and inspection charges. The interested person may contact Diligence Certifications for confirmation of up-to-date particulars.
The initial BIS Hallmark Registration is valid for generally a minimum of 1 year and is renewable. In order to keep it active, you must apply for renewal before the expiry date of regular registration.
The general Fineness standards include:
22K916 (91.6% gold)
18K750 (75% gold)
14K585 (58.5% gold)
Simply put, BIS Hallmark consists of:
BIS Standard Mark
Fineness Mark, such as 22Kt916
Mark of the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre
Mark of the Jeweller
(Date and/or Year of Hallmarking sometimes)
The Diligence Certifications was created with the primary objective of providing compliance services in India and globally, by assisting in the implementation of business to ensure compliance requirements – all requirements in one place.
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