BIS Hallmarking Explained: Your Guarantee of Authenticity
5 min read
Understand what the BIS hallmark means and why it's essential for protecting your jewellery purchase.
The BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) hallmark is India's official stamp of authenticity for precious metal jewellery. It's your assurance that you're getting what you're paying for.
What the BIS Hallmark Includes
A complete BIS hallmark has four components:
1. Purity Mark
A numeric code showing the exact percentage of pure metal:
- **916** = 22K gold (91.6% pure)
- **750** = 18K gold (75% pure)
- **925** = 925 silver (92.5% pure)
- Independent verification by government-accredited labs
- Legal recourse if the jewellery doesn't match the claimed purity
- Better resale value — hallmarked jewellery is always in demand
- Protection against counterfeits and lower-purity substitutes
2. BIS Logo
The official Bureau of Indian Standards symbol — your government guarantee.
3. Assaying Centre's Hallmark
Identifies which certified lab tested and marked the piece. India has multiple accredited assaying centres.
4. Date Code
Shows when the piece was hallmarked, helping verify authenticity and age.
Why Hallmarking Matters
Without hallmarking, you're trusting only the jeweller's word. Hallmarking means:
Hallmarking is Voluntary (But Essential)
In India, jewellery makers aren't legally required to hallmark, but many choose to. Verified jewellers on JewelMark prioritize hallmarking because it builds customer trust.
Always look for the hallmark before purchasing. If a jeweller can't provide it or claims their pieces are "too new" to be hallmarked, be cautious.
Shop hallmarked jewellery from verified sellers on [JewelMark's trusted jewellers](/jewellers).