How to Buy Gold Jewellery in India (2026): Hallmarking, HUID and Purity

Buying Guides

Sep 25

Gold is one of the most important purchases many Indian families make, whether for a wedding, a festival or simply as a lasting store of value. Knowing how to buy gold jewellery well protects you from paying for purity you are not getting. This guide explains the BIS hallmark, how to verify the HUID, what the purity grades mean, and how to read the bill.

What the BIS hallmark shows

Hallmarking is certification of the purity of precious metal, carried out by assaying and hallmarking centres recognised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Since 2021, hallmarking has been mandatory for gold jewellery sold in most districts of India, and it is now standard practice for reputable jewellers.

A current BIS hallmark on gold jewellery has three parts:

The BIS standard mark: the triangular BIS logo.
The purity grade: shown in carats and fineness, for example 22K916.
The HUID: a six-digit alphanumeric code unique to that piece.

The marks are tiny and usually stamped on a clasp, inner band or hidden surface. Ask the jeweller to show you with a loupe or magnifier.

The HUID and how to verify it

HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. Each hallmarked piece gets its own code, which links it to the hallmarking centre, the jeweller and the recorded purity.

To verify a piece:

Download the BIS Care app, published by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Open Verify HUID and enter the six-digit code.
Check that the details shown, such as the type of article and purity, match what you are buying.

Do this before you pay. A good jeweller will be happy to wait while you check. Very small items, generally those under 2 grams, may be exempt from hallmarking, so ask the jeweller about any exempt pieces.

Purity grades

Under the BIS hallmarking standard, gold jewellery is marked in these grades:

24K995: 99.5% pure. Too soft for most jewellery; mainly used for coins and bars.
23K958: 95.8% pure.
22K916: 91.6% pure. The most common choice for traditional Indian jewellery.
20K833: 83.3% pure.
18K750: 75% pure. Common for diamond and gemstone jewellery, where extra strength holds stones securely.
14K585: 58.5% pure. Durable and lighter in colour, used for some contemporary designs.

Higher purity means a richer yellow colour and higher value per gram, but softer metal. For help choosing, read 22K vs 18K vs 14K Gold: Which Purity Should You Choose?

The bill breakdown

A clear jewellery invoice should list:

Gold rate: the rate per gram on the day, for the purity you are buying.
Gross and net weight: gross includes any stones; net is the gold alone. You should only pay the gold rate on the net gold weight.
Making charges: shown as a percentage, a per-gram figure or a flat amount. See Making Charges Explained.
Stone charges: diamonds and gemstones priced separately, ideally with their weights.
Hallmarking charges, where applicable.
GST: applied at 3% on gold jewellery, according to the rates published by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
The HUID of each item.

For a line-by-line walkthrough, read How to Read a Jewellery Invoice in India.

Red flags

Be cautious if you notice any of these:

The piece has no hallmark, or the jeweller cannot show you the HUID.
The HUID does not verify on the BIS Care app, or the details do not match.
Stones are included in the gold weight you are charged for.
The bill does not separate gold, making charges, stones and tax.
You are pressured to decide quickly, or discouraged from checking.
Exchange or buyback terms are vague or only given verbally.

At Tibarumal & Sons Jewellers, Shaikpet, we are always happy to walk you through a hallmark, the HUID and every line of the bill before you buy. To understand our own standards, read The Tibarumal & Sons Promise: Purity, Certification and Buyback.

Visit Tibarumal & Sons Jewellers, Shaikpet

Tibarumal & Sons Jewellers
Shop No. 102, 8-1-299/121, RP Business Park, Al Hamra Colony, Shaikpet, Hyderabad 500008

Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8:30pm
Phone: +91 88855 00805
WhatsApp: Message us on WhatsApp
Instagram: @tibarumalandsons

Allison Lee