Planning to buy gold this Dhanteras? No hallmarking fees will be charged on these pieces of jewellery—here are the rules..
In India, gold is more than just a metal or an ornament; it holds a special emotional and sacred significance in Indian households. To ensure its quality and authenticity, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) made hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery, effective from June 16, 2021. A hallmarking fee is applied uniformly to every gold item, regardless of its weight.
However, certain gold ornaments are currently exempt from this mandatory hallmarking requirement, meaning no hallmarking fee is charged for them. As of September 14, 2026, the BIS has set a hallmarking fee of ₹75 (excluding GST) for every gold item.
Therefore, if you purchase any gold item this Dhanteras or Diwali that falls outside the scope of mandatory hallmarking, you will not be required to pay any such fee. Below is a list of gold ornaments and items for which hallmarking is not mandatory for jewellers.
No hallmarking fee applies to the following items:
Gold articles weighing less than 2 grams.
Kundan, Polki, or Jadau jewellery.
Any item manufactured for export, in accordance with the requirements or standards specified by a foreign buyer.
Gold articles used for medical, dental, veterinary, scientific, or industrial purposes, as well as items made from gold thread.
Any item that is not fully finished and requires further manufacturing or processing.
Gold bullion, whether in the form of bars, plates, sheets, foils, rods, wires, strips, tubes, or coins.
Jewellery intended for international exhibitions.
Jewellery intended for business-to-business (B2B) exhibitions held within the country.
Gold watches and fountain pens.
How is the hallmarking fee applied to detachable jewellery?
Many pieces of jewellery consist of two or more components that can be joined together—for example, certain types of earrings or necklaces. For such items, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) advises buyers to ensure that every individual component—including all detachable parts—bears a unique HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification).
A ‘detachable’ part of a piece of jewellery can be easily removed or replaced. The BIS mandates that every component of such an item, including all its detachable parts, must be hallmarked and carry a distinct HUID. To avoid any issues regarding purity, customers should always verify the presence of the hallmark and the purity details on every individual component.
What happens if a piece of detachable jewellery weighs less than 2 grams?
Let’s look at an example: suppose you are purchasing a pair of gold earrings this Dhanteras. Now, suppose the screw of a pair of earrings is also made of gold, but it weighs less than 2 grams. According to BIS regulations, if gold earrings weigh more than 2 grams, the jeweler will apply a hallmark to the front portion. However, the screw will not be hallmarked, as its weight does not exceed 2 grams.
Gold Hallmarking Fees in 2026
Just before the festive season, in September 2026, the BIS revised the hallmarking charges for gold and silver items. Jewelers are now required to pay a fee of ₹75 per gold item to an authorized ‘Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.’ Previously, this fee was ₹45, representing an increase of approximately 67 percent. It should be noted that, according to the official notification, there is a minimum charge of ₹200 per consignment.
Is the hallmarking fee added to your total bill?
Yes, jewelers include this fee in your final bill. To determine the final price of the jewelry, jewelers typically use the following formula:
Total Price = [(Net Weight × Price for the Day × Purity) + Making Charges + Wastage] × 1.03 + Hallmarking Fee
It is important to note that the hallmark applied to gold jewelry remains valid for the entire lifespan of the piece.
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