About Hallmarking | Riddhi Siddhi Hallmarking and Bullion ASSAYING & HallMarking Lab

In India, Hallmarking Scheme was launched by Bureau of Indian Standards at behest of Government of India in the Year 2000 to protect the consumer interest. The Scheme is voluntary in nature in nature till now and those jewellers wishing to get their jewellery hallmarked are provided a fee based license by BIS before tendering the jewellery to a BIS recognized A&HMC.

As per Bureau of Indian Standards' Hallmarking Scheme, a license is given to jewellers / Jewellery manufacturers, after ensuring that it meets all the requirements of IS 1417:1999 for its manufacturing practice and purity.

A Hallmark, which must consist of Bureau of Indian Standards Logo, the fineness number, mark of Assaying and Hallmarking Centre where jewellery has been assayed and marked, year of Mark and Jeweler's / Jewellery manufacturer's Mark, means that the article has been independently tested by a Hallmarking Centre and assures that it conforms to the marked purity.

The centers for Assaying and Hallmarking are recognized by Bureau of Indian Standards after assaying that all the operations carried out in the centre are as per the Bureau of Indian Standards norms i.e. receipt, sampling, assaying and hallmarking. The assaying laboratory is also assessed as per the ISO/IEC 17025 - 1999. (General requirements for the technical competence of testing laboratory)

The general as well as the technical criteria for the recognition of a Hallmarking and Assaying Centre operating under Bureau of Indian Standards criteria for hallmarking of gold jewellery are documented based on IS/ISO 9001 - 2000 in tandem with ISO/IEC – 17025.

Guidelines for hallmarking

Any jewellery manufactured must meet the following requirements

* IS 1417 – 1999
Gold and Gold alloys, jewellery/artifacts fineness and marking specifications
{3rd revision}

* IS 1418 – 1999
Method for assaying Gold in Gold bullion, Gold alloys and Gold jewellery/artifacts cupellation (fire assay) method

* IS 2790 – 1999
Guidelines for manufacture of 23, 22, 21,18,14 & 9 Karat Gold alloys {1st revision}

* IS 3095 – 1999
Gold solders for use in manufacture of jewellery.

* IS 2112-2003
Silver & silver alloys, Jewellery/Artifacts-Fineness and marking- specification.

* IS 2113-2002
Assaying Silver in Silver and Silver alloys-methods.

	Specific Instructions for Submission of Jewellery for Hallmarking:
1	Before tendering jewellery for hallmarking, from each lot (either manufactured by same Gold smith or of similar design/Technology) a representative sample must be fire assayed (destructive sampling) to confirm the fineness for which is to be hallmarked. A record for the same is essential to ensure that the jewellery being sent for hallmarking meets declared purity.
2	Hollow and studded Jewellery is not normally accepted for hallmarking. Hence it is advised to send jewellery in semi finished condition (before studding) to avoid any damage.
3	Each piece of jewellery must have an identification logo (jeweler's logo) and the year of manufacture (Code Letter as decided by Bureau of Indian Standards e.g. letter 'A' denotes Year 2000 which represents the year of hallmarking, the current code letter 'U' denoting year 2016).
4	Ensure that there is a suitable provision on the piece of jewellery where hallmarks can be put. If this is not the case, provide with soldered strip at suitable place on the jewellery on which hallmarking can be done.
5	When jewellery being sent for hallmarking is manufactured by different artisans, segregation of the articles is to be done in different lots for each artisan. This is to be specified in the Issue Voucher so as to make sampling easier.
6	The jewellery being sent must be properly packed and sealed. It must also accompany with it a detailed list of items, quantity and weight.
7	A sample format of the Packing list to be attached in duplicate with the package can be viewed by clicking on the hyperlink. *NOTE:* It is necessary for the Jewellers to cover all the details mentioned therein.
8	The jewellery sent must be insured for the period, for which it is in transit.
9	Hallmarking Price list can be viewed by clicking on the hyperlink. Price List for Hallmarking (Price-List)
10	First we do 100% XRF of jewellery then we select minimum 10% from lot for scrapping from various part of jewellery.
11	In the event the sample fails to meet the declared purity, a Lower Cartage or Reject mark on each piece is put after informing the client. However, the entire rejected lot will be charged as per the attached price list.

IMPORTANT:

According to IS 1417:1999 Clause 6.2

Gold jewellery/artifacts on which markings should not be applied are as under :

Any Gold jewellery/artifact which has not be assayed by a Bureau of Indian Standards certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.
Any Gold article/ornament which fails to comply with specified fineness/cartage.
Any Gold article/ornament which is not solid or which is made with a hollow centre and then filled with base metal, cement or any other foreign substance thereby giving the article false weight or strength, unless the weight of Gold is indicated on the article along with the jeweler's/sponsor’s logo.
Gold articles on which it is physically impossible to stamp the marks.
CADMIUM (Cd) soldered Gold jewellery.

CHECKLIST:

Markings to look for while buying a Hallmarked jewellery.

Bis Mark

Bureau of Indian Standards Corporate Logo

Fitness	Fineness for Gold	Fineness for Silver
958	Corresponding to 23 Carat	A millesimal number fineness indicative of Gold content	999
916	Corresponding to 22 Carat		990
875	Corresponding to 21 Carat		970
750	Corresponding to 18 Carat		925
585	Corresponding to 14 Carat		900
375	Corresponding to 9 Carat		835
			800