Buyers of gold jewellery will now have the assurance of getting pure gold. The government has made it mandatory for the jewellers to sell only hallmarked jewellery. The mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery is coming into force from 16th June, 2021.
However, initially, hallmarking will be beginning in the 256 districts of the nation which have Assaying marking centres. Also, jewellers with annual turnover up to Rs 40 lakh will be exempted from mandatory hallmarking.
Under Hallmarking scheme of Bureau of Indian Standards, Jewellers are registered for promoting hallmarked jewellery and recognise testing and Hallmarking centres. The BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, had been implemented from 14.06.2018.
Here are a handful of points to maintain an eye on as far as new hallmarking guidelines 2021 are concerned:
- Gold of Additional carats 20, 23 and 24 will also be permitted for Hall Marking.
- Watches, fountain pens and particular sorts of jewellery viz. Kundan, Polki and Jadau will be exempted from Hall Marking.
- Jewellers can continue to obtain back old gold jewellery without the need of hallmark from customer.
- In order to give sufficient time to the companies, wholesalers and retailers of Gold Jewellery, there would be no penalties till August finish.
- Old jewellery can be got hallmarked as it is, if feasible by the jeweller or soon after melting and producing new jewellery.
How to determine if you are getting hallmarked jewellery
There are 4 points to maintain note of although getting hallmarked jewellery:
1. BIS Mark
2. Purity in carat and Fineness (any one)
a) 22K916 – Equal to 22 Carat
b) 18K750 – Equal to 18 Carat
c) 14K585 – Equal to 14 Carat
d) 20, 23 and 24 carat also to be hallmarked now
3. Identification Mark or Number of the Hallmarking Centre’s
4. Identification Mark or quantity of the Jeweller’s
Hallmarking will allow Consumers and Jewellery purchasers to make a ideal selection and save them from any unnecessary confusion although getting gold. At present, only 30% of Indian Gold Jewellery is hallmarked. According to World Gold Council, India has about 4 lakh jewellers, out of this only 35879 have been BIS certified.
The Hallmarking of jewellery and artefacts is needed to improve the credibility of gold Jewellry and Customer satisfaction by means of third party assurance for the marked purity and fineness of gold , customer protection.