Don't let jewelers cheat you by passing off lower-karat gold as the best quality..

Buying gold has always been considered a significant and secure investment. However, during festive seasons or wedding periods, instances of fraud—where impure or lower-carat gold is sold by taking advantage of the rush of customers—can occur. Fortunately, this can be avoided. When visiting a jewelry store to purchase gold, do not be swayed solely by attractive designs; ensure you verify its purity. You can easily distinguish between genuine and fake hallmarking.

Look for the BIS Hallmark Logo
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), an agency under the Government of India, establishes the standards for gold purity in the country. Genuine hallmarked jewelry bears a triangular BIS logo, which is clearly visible even without a magnifying glass. Always check for this when buying gold.

Identifying Carat and Purity
The purity of gold is measured in carats. Authentic hallmarked jewelry will display a precise number indicating its purity. If a piece of jewelry is marked with '916' or '750' but lacks the BIS logo, exercise caution.

24-carat: 99.9% pure; 22-carat: 91.6% pure; 18-carat: 75.0% pure; 14-carat: 58.5% pure.

Check the HUID Code
Under current government regulations, every piece of genuine hallmarked jewelry carries a unique alphanumeric code known as the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code. This is a 6-character code consisting of both letters and digits. It provides information regarding the specific hallmarking center where the jewelry was tested and the date on which the testing took place. Verify the authenticity of gold jewelry yourself using the BIS CARE App.

You can verify whether gold jewelry is genuine or fake right at the jewelry store using your phone. Download the government’s official 'BIS Care App' on your smartphone. Navigate to the 'Verify HUID' option within the app and enter the 6-digit HUID code found on the piece of jewelry. Once you enter the code, the screen will display the purity of the gold, the name of the hallmarking center, and the jeweler's registration number. If the data does not match, consider the gold to be fake or suspicious.

Authentic hallmarked jewelry must feature three key markings: the BIS logo, the karatage and purity standard (e.g., 22K916), and the 6-digit HUID code.

When purchasing gold, always obtain the original bill, which should clearly detail the gold's karatage, weight, making charges, and the applicable GST. Never purchase gold without a bill.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from Amar Ujala. While we modified it for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.