For several decades, Indian residents especially women have maintained a profound fascination with gold. They perceive it as an investment perpetually offering safety and security, particularly during tough times. Consequently, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) took action: to protect customers from adulteration and enforce jewellers' obligation towards maintaining jewellery purity. They launched a Jewellers Registration Scheme. In the year 2000, BIS initiated the Gold Hallmarking Scheme. Subsequently, in the year 2005 they were aware of escalating demand and emerging trends, they introduced a Silver Hallmarking Scheme. The Scheme mandates compulsory BIS Hallmark Registration for selling or manufacturing gold or silver jewellery without this proper examination or mark, identifying the purity of gold through simple visual inspection is impossible. Consequently, by providing essential information and confirming the gold's purity BIS Hallmark Registration also mitigates these concerns.

What do you understand by hallmarking?

The accurate determination and official recording of the equivalent content of precious metals, such as gold and silver, in articles comprises an integral function: hence it is used in across many countries. These legal marks serve to guarantee the purity or fineness. It ensures consumer confidence in their purchase. The Hallmarking Scheme harbors two primary objectives: first is safeguarding against adulteration which gives vital protection for public trust while secondly imposing on all manufacturers a binding obligation in order to uphold standards stipulated by law related to fineness. India has placed the two metals under the ambit of hallmarking i.e., gold and silver.

The Hallmarking Scheme aligns with international Hallmarking criteria: specifically, the BIS grants jewellers a Hallmark Registration in accordance with this scheme. Any jeweller authorised by the BIS can e proceed to get their jewellery hallmarked at one of its recognised centers.

Importance and Benefits of Hallmark Registration 

The certification of Hallmark Registration: an exploration into its significance and benefits are as follows:

• Your business experiences a rapid boost;
• The organization provides quality assurances for jewellery products:
• The company not only delivers customer satisfaction, but also fosters trust: it's a two-pronged approach and also an imperative approach for successful business operations.
• The Certification enhances the value of precious stones and trust in jewellery as it serves as a testament to quality, authenticity, and ethical sourcing factors paramount in the world of exquisite adornments.
• Enforce legal measures to safeguard against all forms of violation.

Different marks of a BIS Hallmark

The Gold Hallmarking: Old traditional Methods

The BIS Mark or Logo signifies:

A third party or independent assessor has rigorously evaluated the decoration and thereafter they confirmed and validated the metal's purity. Typically, this validation occurs at one of the Bureau of Indian Standards' certified labs. Therefore, it is their only rigorous process that such endorsements carry weight. It is also suggested that when an individual see the iconic symbol on his/ her gold ornaments the trust of the assessor increases due to its authenticity.

Purity grade:

The purity of gold can be determined in two ways: through Karats, denoted as KT or by the Fineness Number. The highest grade signified as 24KT, that represents absolute purity. However, this level is too soft for use in ornamentation or jewellery. Consequently, craftsmen add a trace amount of other metals such as silver or zinc to imbue durability into their gold creations.

The Hallmarking Centre’s mark:

The Hallmarking License of either the centre or a third-party evaluator: this label adorns every product. The centre meticulously inspects the purity of each item for silver and gold. Thereafter, it ensures that any future inconsistencies can be addressed by returning the object back to them.

Jeweller’s Mark:

The manufacturer's or jeweller's mark on a metal article is denoted by "Jeweller Mark," and each BIS certified jeweller decorates with a unique Jeweller BIS Hallmark Logo. These markings, including all such insignias, are readily visible within the jewellery; thus it is easier to seek and ascertain the purity of any given piece. Further it also serves as an unmistakable indicator

Marking year:

The object bears a hallmark or label indicating the year of marking. The BIS assigns a code letter to represent each marking year. For instance, 'A' denotes 2000 and subsequent letters correspond sequentially to subsequent years – 'B' represents 2001, C stands for 2002 etc.

New methods of Hallmarking of Gold:

The BIS has unveiled a groundbreaking method for hallmarking gold as it incorporates not only the traditional BIS Hallmark and metal purity, but also includes a Unique Identification Number on jewellery. The Indian Government declared in 2019 that this new hallmarked standard would be mandatory across all gold artefacts & jewellery nation-wide. Therefore, it enforces strict compliance measures. Registered jewellers may also sell precious articles of gold. It is satisfying the terms and conditions of their Hallmark Registration Certificate as outlined in Regulation 5 of the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 through certified sales outlets. It is selecting the state or region and IS Number grants access to the list of licensed jewellers.

In India, two distinct types of BIS Hallmarking Registration Certificate, these two types are listed below:

BIS registration Jewellers or Showroom: Registration with BIS is a compulsory step for gold and silver jewellery manufacturers or sellers. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), under its Hallmarking Scheme, provides jewellers Hallmarking Registration specific to their location. If a jeweller wish to sell BIS Hallmarked gold jewellery, they must secure individualized Hallmark Registration from the BIS for each of their sales outlets in advance. BIS Assaying & Hallmarking Centres can hallmark the jewellery of jewellers who hold BIS certification.

BIS recognition & Hallmarking centre: The Assaying & Hallmarking Centre earns recognition from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as a certified marking center or third-party evaluation facility that examines and stamps the purity of precious metals. This centre seeks BIS approval, while the A&H Centre has eligibility to apply for such recognition by BIS.

Types of forms for Hallmark Registration

Criteria for Hallmark Registration

If the cancellation is done under the Hallmark Registration under sub-regulation 1(e) of Regulation 7 from the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2018 then a jeweller cannot seek an application for their Hallmark Registration Certificate until one year has passed since such order was issued it is considered a cooling period.

Under this provision, a convicted jeweller remains ineligible to apply for Registration for at least one year following the conviction date.

Please note: The firm or individual, though they may have obtained registration through online portals. It is not eligible to apply for a Hallmark Registration Certificate; consequently, BIS reserves the right to cancel their liabilities.

Documents required for Hallmark Registration

Any company must provide proof of firm’s establishment, includes:

• ROC's issue the Certificate of Registration along with the MOA (Memorandum of Association).
• If the applicant is a partnership firm: Registered Partnership Deed;
• If the applicant is a Proprietorship Firm, they must provide their CA Certificate.

A proof of address for a company or firm may include:

• Certificate of GST Registration;
• Agreement for the Sale or Lease Deed;
• Order for Income Tax Assessment;
• The agreement for rent includes the most recent receipt of payment;
• Receipts for the most recent property tax:
• Order for Income Tax Assessment;
• Registration with State Government authority

There are certain ID proofs that are required in the registration procedure are as follows:

• Copy of Aadhar and other ID proofs that are issued by the Gazette officer on official letterhead.
• Verification based on Aadhar card and E-sginature.
• Location map that indicates the location of the premises that are nearest to the landmark for each outlet.

The aforesaid documents are to be considered as the ID proofs of the signatory. Further, there are proofs for the annual turnover is also required:

• Copy of GST returns of the previous financial year;
• An undertaking should be taken from the firm with the estimation of turnover & assurance to submit GST Returns.

Procedure for getting Hallmark Registration Certificate in India

Step 1: Document Preparation: In this initial phase, organizing and preparing all essential registration documents are required.

Step 2: Filing the Application: For preparing all necessary documents, and subsequently submission of Registration application online.

Step 3: Inspection: submission of the application, documents and prescribed fees. Following this action an inspector from the relevant BIS department will conduct a thorough examination.

Step 4: Issuance of Certificate: The inspector, once fully satisfied, will issue a Hallmark Registration Certificate; subsequently, an information will be transmitted via email.