In today’s gold market, appearances can be deceiving. A shining necklace or bangle may look flawless, but unless it carries a valid hallmark, you may be paying for less gold than you think. For this reason, it is essential to know how to identify a genuine gold hallmark and verify authenticity before making any purchase. A little awareness can go a long way in protecting buyers from fraud and ensuring their gold truly reflects its value.

What is Hallmarking?

Hallmarking in India refers to the official certification system that verifies the purity and fineness of gold jewellery. It is carried out under the regulations of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), ensuring that what you purchase matches the purity you are promised. Since June 2021, hallmarking has been made mandatory for most categories of gold jewellery, giving buyers a stronger assurance of authenticity.

A standard BIS hallmark consists of four elements:

• BIS Logo – The mark that confirms certification.
• Purity Grade – Expressed in carats and fineness (for example, 22 carat or 916).
• Assaying and Hallmarking Centre’s stamp – The identity of the certified centre where the item was tested.
• Jeweller’s Identification Mark – Unique to the licensed jeweller.

Only when all these components appear together can a buyer be certain of the ornament’s purity.

How to Check Gold Carat

The purity of gold is expressed in carats, where 24 carats represents the highest grade with 99.9% purity. However, since pure gold is too soft for daily wear, jewellery is generally crafted in lower grades such as 22 carats (91.6% pure) or 18 carats (75% pure).

If you’re wondering how to check gold karat, here’s what you need to do:

• Look for the hallmark engraved on the ornament, which specifies the caratage.
• Cross-check the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, a six-digit code assigned to every hallmarked piece.
• Use the BIS Care mobile application to verify the HUID number in real time.
• For even greater accuracy, advanced methods such as X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) testing may be used, particularly at professional gold evaluation centres such as Muthoot Gold Point, where customers can watch the purity-checking process live for complete transparency.

How to Check 22-Carat Gold

If you are specifically purchasing 22-carat jewellery, it will be hallmarked with either 22K or 916, both indicating a purity of 91.6%.

Traditional home-based checks, such as testing whether gold sticks to a magnet or biting it to see if it bends, are outdated and unreliable. The most dependable way to confirm purity is by knowing how to check 22-carat gold through hallmarking and HUID verification. This is why it is always advisable to buy from BIS-licensed jewellers and request clarity on the hallmark before purchase.

How to Check Gold Hallmark

Spotting a hallmark is only the first step; verifying it is what truly matters. Some counterfeit sellers may attempt to replicate hallmark symbols, making it critical to double-check.

Here’s how to check a gold hallmark correctly:

• When checking an ornament, look carefully for the BIS logo, the carat marking, the identification of the assaying centre, and the jeweller’s unique stamp.
• Always validate the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number through the BIS Care mobile application to ensure authenticity.
• Purchase only from recognised and certified jewellers.

For those who want additional assurance, Muthoot Gold Point offers professional, nationally recognised purity testing services, where the process is carried out with advanced equipment in front of customers. This not only helps prevent fraud but also ensures fair value if you plan to sell your gold.

Why Hallmarking Matters

Buying gold without a valid hallmark exposes buyers to the risk of overpaying for jewellery of lower purity. This reduces the ornament’s long-term financial worth and affects its resale value.

Hallmarking safeguards consumers by:

• Guaranteeing the stated purity of the ornament.
• Protecting against fraud or under-carat jewellery.
• Ensuring a fair resale evaluation in the future.

Conclusion

Knowing how to check gold karat, verify 22 carat gold, and confirm a gold hallmark is essential for any responsible buyer. Far beyond being a simple stamp, hallmarking is the foundation of trust and transparency in the gold trade.

By combining hallmark checks, HUID verification, and professional testing with trusted partners like Muthoot Gold Point, you can buy and sell gold with complete confidence, secure in the knowledge that its purity and value are exactly as they should be.