Before you accept a price for gold jewellery in India, first read the hallmark, verify any six-digit HUID in the BIS CARE app, and obtain a physical assay when the mark is missing, unclear or disputed. A HUID lookup confirms the details recorded for a hallmark; it does not retest the metal in your hand. For a documented purity result, take the item or a sample to a BIS-recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) and agree in advance on the test method, possible damage and charges.
You may sell old unhallmarked jewellery to a jeweller, and older hallmarked jewellery without a HUID remains valid when it was hallmarked under an earlier scheme. The checks below help you understand what you own before negotiating the deduction for purity, stones, making charges and other items on the jeweller’s bill.
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What you can establish before selling
There are three different questions that are often confused:
- What does the hallmark record say? The BIS CARE app’s HUID lookup returns the registered jeweller, stated purity, article type and hallmarking centre associated with that HUID.
- What is on the surface? An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) reading at an AHC is non-destructive and gives a surface-composition result.
- What is the gold content of a representative sample? Fire assay removes a sample and is the destructive method that the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) describes as widely used and accurate for gold content.
A matching HUID is useful evidence that the physical article resembles the item recorded in the hallmark database. It is not a fresh assay of the jewellery and cannot reveal whether the item has been altered, repaired or replaced after hallmarking. If the sale value is substantial or the mark and the item do not match, obtain an AHC report rather than relying on the stamp alone.
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Step 1: Read the hallmark on the item
Identify the three HUID-era elements
For jewellery hallmarked under the current HUID system, look for:
- The BIS logo.
- A purity mark expressed in caratage and fineness, such as the value shown on the article’s hallmark.
- A unique six-digit alphanumeric HUID.
Marks are often tiny or worn. BIS says jewellers should make a magnifying glass of at least 10X available for customer inspection. A 10X jeweller’s loupe can therefore help you read a faint mark, but it only enlarges the engraving. It does not measure gold content, detect plating or establish the purity of the whole piece.
Inspect more than one area when the item is complex
Read the mark on each article you intend to sell. A necklace, pendant, chain and earrings should not be treated as one item merely because they were purchased together. Look for a separate mark or tag on each piece and note the article type, stated purity and HUID before handing anything to a buyer. If a mark is partly missing, photograph it in good light and ask the jeweller or AHC to record the uncertainty on the intake document.
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Use the “Verify HUID” feature
- Open the BIS CARE app and choose Verify HUID.
- Enter the six-digit alphanumeric HUID exactly as engraved, checking similar-looking characters carefully.
- Review the returned jeweller registration number, purity, article type and hallmarking-centre information.
- Compare those details with the physical item in front of you.
The article type should make sense for what you are holding. A record for one type of article is not proof for a different piece that happens to carry a similar-looking mark. The purity shown in the lookup should also correspond to the purity mark you can read on the item.
Understand what a successful match means
A successful lookup verifies the details associated with the HUID record. It does not weigh the jewellery, inspect its construction or assay its current metal. It also cannot tell you whether a stone, soldered repair or internal component changes the recoverable gold weight. Use the lookup to catch an inconsistent or suspicious hallmark, then use an AHC test when you need a physical result.
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Know the HUID transition rule
BIS and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs state that sale of hallmarked jewellery without a six-digit HUID was prohibited after 31 March 2023. That rule does not invalidate older hallmarked jewellery held by consumers under earlier hallmarking schemes. A consumer may still sell such an older hallmarked item to a jeweller. An item that was never hallmarked may also be sold; the absence of a HUID simply means you need another way to establish purity for a fair negotiation.
Step 3: Get a documented test from a BIS-recognized AHC
BIS’s Consumer Protection page states: “Consumer can get its jewellery/sample tested from any of the BIS Recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre.” An AHC accepts consumer jewellery or a sample on a chargeable basis and issues an assay report identifying the article as marked. Use the current BIS centre directory to find a recognized centre, and confirm its opening hours, fees and intake requirements before travelling because local availability and charges can change.
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Ask these questions before surrendering the item
- Will the centre perform XRF, fire assay or both?
- Is the proposed test non-destructive, minimally damaging or destructive?
- Where will any sample be removed, how much will be taken and can you see the sampling?
- What identification tag will remain with the item while it is being tested?
- What is the total charge, including a written report and any additional test?
- When will the jewellery and any retained material be returned?
Consent to the sampling method before work starts. A low-cost XRF screening and a destructive fire assay answer different questions; agreeing to one does not automatically authorize the other.
Insist on controlled handling
BIS consumer guidance says the jewellery should be weighed in your presence, checked individually and tagged for identification. Watch the weight being recorded for each article, not merely the combined weight of a bag of pieces. Confirm that the tag or receipt describes the article well enough for you to identify it when collected. Keep the intake receipt, photographs and final report with your sale records.
How XRF and fire assay differ
| Option | What the result tells you | Damage and limitation |
|---|---|---|
| BIS CARE HUID lookup | Whether the HUID record’s purity and article details correspond to the jewellery being checked | No physical assay of the current item |
| XRF at a BIS-recognized AHC | Gold content measured at the tested surface; useful as a preliminary, non-destructive check | Surface composition may not represent average purity. BIS notes that the reported purity may vary by ±5 parts per thousand (±5 ppt). |
| Fire assay at a BIS-recognized AHC | Gold content determined from a removed sample; BIS describes this as a widely used and accurate method | Destructive: a sample must be removed from the article. |
XRF: quick and non-destructive, but surface-limited
XRF directs X-rays at the metal and reports the composition of the area examined. Because the test does not remove metal, it is appropriate when preserving the article matters or when you first need to screen several pieces. The result can be affected by plating, solder, uneven composition or a tested spot that is not representative of the interior. BIS’s consumer guideline notes a possible variation of ±5 ppt. Treat an XRF-only result as a preliminary indication, not as a definitive certificate of the average purity of a complex article.
Fire assay: stronger evidence at the cost of a sample
Fire assay requires metal to be removed. BIS’s guideline says approximately 300–500 milligrams is required for the assay and describes fire assay as the widely used and accurate method for gold content. Ask the centre to show or describe the exact sampling location before you consent. For hollow, stone-set or intricately soldered jewellery, discuss how the sample will be chosen so the result is not misunderstood as applying to a different material.
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BIS guidance says the jewellery should be returned with the cornet and remnants, if any. If fire assay cannot be completed the same day, the jewellery is returned after XRF while the retained sample is tested. Ask the centre to put that sequence and the expected collection date on your receipt.
Preparing jewellery for a reliable comparison
Separate articles and record their condition
- List every piece separately, including items bought as a set.
- Photograph the hallmark, stones, visible damage and distinctive marks before submission.
- Record the weight shown by the AHC while you are present.
- Note whether stones, beads, enamel, springs, clasps or other non-gold parts are attached.
A jeweller’s purchase calculation may deduct the weight of stones and non-gold components. An assay report establishes purity for the tested article; it does not by itself determine the net gold weight used in a purchase offer. Ask the buyer to show the gross weight, deductions, purity used, rate and final payable amount as separate entries.
Keep the chain of custody
Do not leave an untagged article at a shop or testing centre. The receipt should identify the piece, the agreed test, the date, the fee and the person or business receiving it. Match the returned article to your photographs and tag before you authorize a sale. If the centre retains a sample for a later fire assay, keep the receipt until the report and any returned remnants are received.
Using the result when negotiating a sale
- Establish the article identity. Match the physical piece to its hallmark, HUID result or AHC report.
- Ask which purity the buyer will use. Have the buyer write the caratage or fineness used in the calculation.
- Separate weight categories. Request gross weight, stone or non-gold deductions, and net gold weight as separate figures.
- Request the rate and deductions in writing. A transparent offer should show the rate applied, any melting or refining deduction and the final amount.
- Compare like with like. If one buyer relies on an XRF surface reading and another uses an AHC fire-assay report, ask why their purity assumptions differ before comparing the rupee totals.
- Keep the documents. Retain the HUID result, AHC report, receipt and final sale invoice.
Do not let a familiar hallmark substitute for a written calculation. A verified HUID can support the stated purity, while a physical report can give you evidence about the item presented. Neither document tells you what a particular jeweller must pay; the buyer’s rate and deductions still need to be disclosed.
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What to do if the item tests below its hallmark
If hallmarked jewellery is found to contain less purity than marked, BIS describes a compensation remedy: two times the amount of the purity difference calculated for the weight of the article sold, plus testing charges. This is BIS’s stated framework, not a guarantee that every individual claim will be accepted or paid without review.
Preserve evidence before complaining
- Keep the original purchase invoice, hallmark photographs and HUID lookup details.
- Keep the AHC assay report, test receipt and weight record.
- Ask the jeweller for a written offer or sale invoice showing the purity and weight used.
- Record dates, names and the response to your complaint.
BIS lists offline and online complaint routes, including the BIS CARE app and its online portal. Use the current instructions shown by BIS when filing, and submit copies rather than surrendering your only documents.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common mistakes and the safer alternative
Assuming a stamp is a complete test
A stamp can be worn, copied or associated with a different article. Read all elements and verify the HUID where one exists; use an AHC when the identity or value is uncertain.
Treating an app result as a fresh assay
The app reports the record linked to the HUID. It does not sample the metal in your possession. A physical AHC test is the appropriate next step when you need evidence about current composition.
Accepting an XRF number as the average purity
XRF examines a surface and BIS notes possible ±5 ppt variation. Ask whether the centre recommends additional sampling, especially for plated, repaired, hollow or multi-metal articles.
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Agreeing to destructive sampling without consent
Fire assay removes approximately 300–500 mg according to BIS guidance. Confirm the amount, location, handling and return of remnants before authorizing it.
Handing over a mixed lot without individual tags
Have each article weighed, checked and tagged in your presence. A single combined weight makes it harder to reconcile a report or identify a returned piece.
Believing an old item is unsellable because it lacks HUID
Older hallmarked jewellery without HUID remains valid under earlier schemes, and BIS says old unhallmarked jewellery may be sold to a jeweller. The practical issue is establishing a purity basis for the offer, not a blanket prohibition on selling.
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A practical decision path
- Clear HUID and ordinary-value item: Read the mark, verify the HUID, photograph the result and ask the buyer for a written weight-and-rate calculation.
- No HUID, old hallmark or unclear engraving: Ask an AHC for a chargeable consumer test before accepting a final offer.
- High-value, repaired, plated, hollow or disputed item: Ask the AHC to explain whether XRF is sufficient and whether fire assay sampling is needed. Get the sampling terms in writing.
- Hallmark and physical item do not match: Do not rely on the stamp. Preserve the item and documents, seek an AHC report, and consider the BIS complaint routes if the article is shown to be below its marked purity.
Checklist to take with you
- Clean, readable photographs of every article and hallmark.
- The HUID and BIS CARE verification details, when available.
- Purchase invoice or other ownership records.
- A list separating each item, stones and visible repairs.
- A written request for the AHC method, fee, sampling plan and report.
- A receipt showing individual weights and identification tags.
- The final assay report and any returned cornet or remnants.
- A written jeweller offer showing purity, gross and net weight, rate and deductions.
How current are these procedures?
The BIS consumer guidance page used for this process was last updated 26 November 2025. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs source on the HUID transition is dated 4 March 2023, and the BIS AHC operating guideline is revised October 2024. App screens, centre listings, fees and appointment procedures can change, so confirm the current details with BIS and the selected recognized centre before you travel or authorize sampling.
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