Before buying hallmarked gold jewellery in India, do three things: verify each item’s HUID in the BIS CARE app, get an itemized quote and invoice, and save the jeweller’s return or exchange terms in writing. BIS guidance covers hallmark verification and invoice details; it does not set a standard making-charge rate or a universal return period.
How do I check gold purity before buying?
- Inspect every article and detachable part. Ask the jeweller to show each hallmark under a magnifying glass. BIS says each article in a pair should carry its hallmark and fineness details, and detachable parts should also be hallmarked because parts can be replaced. The shop should have a magnifying glass of at least 10X for customer inspection.
- Verify the HUID in the BIS CARE app. Use the app’s “Verify HUID” feature and check that the returned information matches the jewellery and its stated purity. BIS says this feature can be used to verify purity before purchase. Looking at a mark through a loupe or photo is not a substitute for this app check. BIS consumer protection guidance (last updated November 26, 2025).
- Check the shop’s inspection aids. BIS consumer guidance says jewellers should display their BIS registration, provide a customer-accessible 10X magnifying glass, and display the relationship between fineness and caratage. BIS’s January 2024 jeweller guidelines specify a weighing balance accurate to 0.01 g. These are India-specific BIS guidelines; confirm current requirements with BIS if they matter to a dispute.
If you remain unsure about a hallmarked item, BIS says consumers may get the jewellery or a sample tested at a BIS-recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre on a chargeable basis. Ask the centre for its assay report, which should identify the article as marked. The BIS consumer page also describes compensation where purchased hallmarked jewellery is found below its marked purity: twice the value difference attributable to the purity shortfall for the article’s weight, plus testing charges. Check current BIS rules and complaint channels for how a specific case is handled.
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What should be on a gold jewellery bill?
BIS says an invoice for a hallmarked precious-metal article should identify the article, state the net weight of precious metal and purity in carat and fineness, and list hallmarking charges. BIS describes an authentic invoice as necessary for dispute, misuse, or complaint redressal. Keep the invoice and the written quote together.
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- Gold rate used to calculate the item’s price.
- Net precious-metal weight, distinguished from stones and other non-gold components.
- Making charge and its basis: fixed amount, per gram, or percentage.
- Any wastage charge, separately stated.
- Stone or non-gold component costs, taxes, and the final payable total.
Are making charges and hallmarking charges the same?
No. BIS explicitly distinguishes hallmarking charges from making and wastage charges: the hallmarking fee does not include either of the other charges. The reviewed BIS guidance does not prescribe a universal making-charge rate or calculation method. Ask the jeweller to state each charge and its basis rather than treating one fee as an all-in craftsmanship charge.
BIS’s January 2024 jeweller guidance lists hallmarking charges of Rs. 45 per gold article and Rs. 35 per silver article. Those are amounts printed in that dated guideline, not a guarantee of the charge currently applicable to a purchase. Check the current BIS guidance and the jeweller’s itemized quote.
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How should I compare quotes from different jewellers?
Compare equivalent items and use the same basis for every price:
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- Compare net precious-metal weight, not a total weight that includes stones or non-gold parts.
- Compare the final itemized payable price, including making, wastage, taxes, and other stated charges.
- Check whether making charges are fixed, per gram, or percentage-based before comparing them.
- Compare the written return and exchange conditions as well as the price.
Can I return gold jewellery after buying it?
There is no universal return period established by the BIS guidance cited here. Whether you can return, exchange, resize, or cancel an order depends on the seller’s terms and the transaction, as well as applicable consumer rules. A BIS hallmark verifies purity information; it does not promise return eligibility or establish craftsmanship quality.
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Before paying, get the jeweller’s policy in writing and save it with the quote and invoice. Check whether it covers:
- Return, exchange, resizing, and cancellation, with deadlines for each.
- Deductions, fees, or changes in value on return or exchange.
- Special conditions for stones, custom work, or damaged or missing packaging.
- Required proof, such as the original invoice or tags.
Do not assume an online-shopping cooling-off period applies to an in-store purchase or custom-made precious-metal item. For a disputed purity claim, consult BIS’s current consumer guidance and complaint channels.
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