In-depth articles on hallmarking, precious metal testing, BIS regulations, bullion markets, and consumer education, written by our team and curated from trusted industry sources.
65 articles found
Two government gold schemes have wound down and a popular online product remains unregulated. A plain look at the options left for buying gold in 2026, and where certified purity still fits.
10 July 2026 · 3 min read
A run of BIS search-and-seizure actions in 2026, several triggered by BIS Care app complaints, shows how enforcement of the HUID mandate now works on the ground.
25 June 2026 · 2 min read
Indian gold ETFs pulled in a record ₹24,040 crore in January 2026 and about ₹68,868 crore across 2025-26. Silver ETFs also gathered pace. Here is what that means and how it differs from a hallmarked coin.
15 June 2026 · 3 min read
Silver hallmarking is still voluntary. In June 2026 BIS said it is studying the practical challenges before making it compulsory. Adoption has almost doubled in a year.
8 June 2026 · 3 min read
A BIS standard notified in early 2026 reserves the word 'diamond' for natural stones and requires clear disclosure of lab-grown origin and growth method. What it means for jewellers, and how it differs from hallmarking.
18 May 2026 · 3 min read
Silver hit an all-time high near ₹2.42 lakh per kg in late December 2025 and held above ₹2.2 lakh through mid-2026. A fifth year of supply deficit and industrial demand are behind it.
10 May 2026 · 3 min read
Gold hit an intra-quarter record near ₹1,75,000 per 10 g in Q1 2026. Indian buyers bought less jewellery by weight but spent a record amount, and turned to bars, coins, and funds.
30 April 2026 · 2 min read
From 1 April 2026, the Reserve Bank replaced the flat loan-to-value cap with tiered limits, set rules on returning pledged gold, and tied lending to purity. What borrowers and jewellers should know.
5 April 2026 · 3 min read
The Union Budget on 1 February 2026 lowered basic customs duty on gold and silver from 6% to 5%, and eased the duty-free jewellery allowance for travellers. Here is what changed and what it means for prices.
20 March 2026 · 2 min read
From 2 March 2026, BIS extended mandatory gold hallmarking to seven new districts, taking the total to 380. More than 60 crore articles now carry a HUID.
12 March 2026 · 2 min read
A step-by-step regulatory guide for new jewellers, from BIS registration and GST enrolment to hallmarking compliance, shop licensing, and building consumer trust.
10 March 2026 · 4 min read
How India built the world's largest precious metal hallmarking infrastructure, the economic forces driving its expansion, and the measurable impact on consumer protection, industry formalisation, and market trust.
5 March 2026 · 5 min read
A step-by-step guide to understanding the three components of the BIS hallmark, the HUID verification process, and what each element of the hallmark certificate tells you about your jewellery.
15 February 2026 · 4 min read
The latest developments in India's hallmarking system as of early 2026, from the silver HUID assessment to the image-and-weight capture pilot and upcoming mandatory bullion hallmarking.
1 February 2026 · 4 min read
How hallmarking requirements apply to heritage, temple, and antique jewellery, including exemptions for Kundan, Polki, and Jadau, special handling procedures, and the challenges of testing historical pieces.
20 January 2026 · 4 min read
An overview of lab-grown diamonds and synthetic gemstones in the Indian market, how they differ from natural stones, testing methods for identification, disclosure requirements, and market trends.
5 January 2026 · 4 min read
What assayers do in a hallmarking laboratory, the qualifications required, how BIS certification works, and the career opportunities in India's growing precious metals testing industry.
20 December 2025 · 4 min read
Strategies for jewellery manufacturers submitting large volumes for hallmarking, from batch organisation and documentation efficiency to choosing the right centre and seasonal planning.
5 December 2025 · 4 min read
An overview of recycled gold in the Indian market, ESG considerations, responsible sourcing standards, traceability challenges, and how hallmarking supports the sustainability narrative.
25 November 2025 · 4 min read
A data-driven look at India's gold imports, domestic refining capacity, LBMA accreditation challenges, and the hallmarking infrastructure that supports the supply chain.
20 November 2025 · 2 min read
How BIS hallmarking affects jewellery insurance, from policy requirements and valuation to the claims process, and why hallmarked jewellery is easier and cheaper to insure.
10 November 2025 · 4 min read
A step-by-step guide to verifying a HUID with the free BIS Care app: what each result means, the new photo-and-weight checks, the red flags to watch for, and how to raise a complaint.
20 October 2025 · 3 min read
A clear guide to GST on hallmarking charges, input tax credit for jewellers, invoicing requirements, and how to handle hallmarking costs in your GST returns.
15 October 2025 · 4 min read
On World Standards Day 2025, BIS began photographing and weighing jewellery at 25 hallmarking centres and tying both to the HUID. Here is what the pilot fixes, how it works, and what it changes for jewellers and buyers.
14 October 2025 · 4 min read
A balanced comparison of digital and physical gold investment, covering purity, liquidity, regulation, storage, risks, and the role of hallmarking in physical gold.
5 October 2025 · 3 min read
A comprehensive guide for families buying jewellery during the Indian wedding season, what to check, how to verify purity, tips for bridal sets, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
25 September 2025 · 4 min read
Everything jewellers need to know about the new HUID-based silver hallmarking system, the revised IS 2112:2025 standard, and what mandatory silver hallmarking may look like.
15 September 2025 · 2 min read
From 1 September 2025, silver hallmarking shifted to the six-digit HUID under the revised IS 2112:2025 standard. Here are the seven purity grades, the durability problem BIS is still solving, and why it stays voluntary for now.
1 September 2025 · 3 min read
A practical guide to hallmarking turnaround times, the factors that affect speed, how peak seasons create delays, and strategies for jewellers to optimise batch submissions.
25 August 2025 · 3 min read
A clear explanation of how gold prices are set, from the LBMA benchmark and COMEX trading to IBJA rates, import duties, GST, and making charges.
10 August 2025 · 2 min read
The current state of platinum hallmarking in India under IS 2640, BIS standards for platinum jewellery, market size, and future regulatory plans for mandatory platinum certification.
10 August 2025 · 4 min read
How gold gets its colour, the alloy compositions behind white, rose, and yellow gold, the science of metallic colour, and how each variant is hallmarked under BIS standards.
30 July 2025 · 5 min read
A deep dive into silver fineness grades, what each number means, where each grade is used, how to identify them, and how hallmarking works for different silver purities.
15 July 2025 · 4 min read
Amendment No. 2 to IS 1417 added 9-karat gold (375 fineness) to India's recognised purities in July 2025, bringing lightweight and fashion jewellery into the hallmarking system for the first time.
15 July 2025 · 3 min read
An overview of prevalent gold fraud methods, from under-karating to counterfeit bars, and how BIS hallmarking and HUID verification protect consumers.
5 July 2025 · 2 min read
What jewellery exporters need to know about BIS hallmarking exemptions, international standards recognition, and the documentation required for exporting gold and silver articles from India.
20 June 2025 · 4 min read
A round-up of the latest BIS hallmarking regulation changes, from the fourth phase of mandatory gold hallmarking to the launch of silver HUID.
10 June 2025 · 2 min read
What NABL and IAGES accreditation means for hallmarking centres, why it matters for testing accuracy and consumer trust, and how laboratories earn and maintain accredited status.
25 May 2025 · 4 min read
A step-by-step consumer guide to checking BIS hallmarks, verifying HUID codes, and ensuring the gold you buy is genuine.
20 May 2025 · 2 min read
What jewellers and consumers should look for when selecting a hallmarking centre, from BIS authorization and accreditation to turnaround times, location, and track record.
5 May 2025 · 4 min read
Separating fact from fiction: 12 widespread myths about gold testing, hallmarking, HUID, and purity, each debunked with factual, authoritative explanations.
25 April 2025 · 4 min read
Understanding the critical differences between hallmarked and non-hallmarked gold jewellery, from purity assurance to resale value and legal compliance.
15 April 2025 · 3 min read
A practical guide to hallmarking rejections, why articles fail testing, how the remediation process works, and what jewellers can do to minimise re-submission costs and delays.
10 April 2025 · 4 min read
How BIS-authorized Assaying & Hallmarking Centres act as independent quality gatekeepers between manufacturers, jewellers, and consumers.
25 March 2025 · 2 min read
How India's mandatory hallmarking regime armed regulators and consumers with new tools to combat gold fraud, from enforcement raids and penalty structures to the BIS complaint mechanism.
10 March 2025 · 3 min read
Why fire assay remains the gold standard for purity analysis, its unmatched accuracy, the four-stage process, and how it complements XRF in modern hallmarking.
15 February 2025 · 3 min read
Everything jewellers and consumers need to know about the HUID system, from how it works to how to verify it.
1 February 2025 · 2 min read
How hallmarking centres test the purity of gold and silver bullion, from XRF screening to fire assay.
25 January 2025 · 2 min read
An inside look at X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry, the non-destructive method used to test gold and silver purity.
20 January 2025 · 2 min read
A comprehensive guide to the BIS hallmarking system in India, what it means, who it protects, and how it works.
15 January 2025 · 2 min read
A clear guide to understanding karat and fineness numbers, from 24K/999 pure gold to 14K/585.
10 January 2025 · 2 min read
A history of gold purity testing in India, from the touchstone of the Indus Valley through acid testing, specific gravity, and the adoption of XRF spectrometry and fire assay in modern hallmarking.
5 January 2025 · 3 min read
A chronological overview of how BIS hallmarking became mandatory for gold jewellery in India.
20 December 2024 · 1 min read
A clear guide to which gold articles are exempt from mandatory BIS hallmarking, including weight thresholds, traditional jewellery, exports, bullion, and jeweller turnover limits.
1 November 2024 · 3 min read
From zero centres in 1999 to over 1,700 by 2026, how India built the world's largest precious metal testing infrastructure, including the IS 15820 standard and offsite centres.
15 September 2024 · 3 min read
A comparison of hallmarking frameworks across India, the UK, UAE, Turkey, and the Vienna Convention, and what makes India's HUID system globally unique.
20 July 2024 · 3 min read
An in-depth look at the Hallmark Unique Identification system, its July 2021 launch, the technology behind it, the challenges faced, and how it created piece-level traceability for 58 crore articles.
1 May 2024 · 3 min read
A detailed account of India's five-phase mandatory hallmarking rollout, from the COVID-delayed launch in June 2021 to 373 districts and 58 crore hallmarked articles by 2026.
5 March 2024 · 3 min read
How the 2015 Gold Monetisation Scheme leveraged BIS hallmarking centres as purity testing points, and what it revealed about the strategic importance of assaying infrastructure.
10 January 2024 · 3 min read
A look at India's original four-component hallmarking system, the BIS logo, purity mark, AHC number, and jeweller's mark, and why it was replaced by the three-mark HUID system in 2021.
15 November 2023 · 3 min read
A detailed look at IS 1417, the Indian Standard that defines gold purity grades, hallmarking requirements, and testing specifications, and how it has evolved since its first publication.
1 September 2023 · 3 min read
How India's national standards body evolved from the Indian Standards Institution to BIS, and how the BIS Act 2016 provided the legal backbone for mandatory precious metal hallmarking.
5 July 2023 · 3 min read
How India's hallmarking infrastructure grew from scratch to over 230 centres in its first decade, including the introduction of silver hallmarking and the first AHC competence standard.
10 May 2023 · 3 min read
The story behind India's hallmarking system, from a 1993 World Gold Council approach to the landmark launch of voluntary hallmarking in April 2000.
15 March 2023 · 3 min read
A journey through 5,000 years of precious metal testing, from the earliest fire assays in Asia Minor to England's 1300 hallmarking statute and India's modern BIS system.
20 January 2023 · 3 min read
Our glossary covers hallmarking, assaying, bullion, and purity terminology used across the Indian precious metals industry.
Explore the glossary