| BIS hallmark | |
| Standards Org: | Bureau of Indian Standards |
| Agency: | Accredited 'Assaying & Hallmarking Centres' |
| Region: | India |
| Founded: | 2000 for Gold jewelry, 2005 for Silver jewelry |
| Products: | Gold jewelry, Silver jewelry |
| Legal Status: | Not yet Mandatory |
The BIS Haulmark is a hallmarking system for gold as well as silver jewellery sold in India, certifying the purity of the metal.[1] [2] It certifies that the piece of jewellery conforms to a set of standards laid by the Bureau of Indian Standards, the national standards organization of India. India is the second biggest market for gold and its jewellery.
India imports in excess of 1000 tons annually (including unofficially smuggled gold) with negligible local production.[3] The annual gold imports are around 50 billion US$ next only to crude oil imports widening the trade deficit.[4]
The BIS system of hallmarking of gold jewellery began in April 2000. The standard specifications governing this system are IS 1417 (grades of gold and gold alloys, jewellery/artefacts), IS 1418 (assaying of gold in gold bullion, gold alloys and gold jewellery/artefacts), IS 2790 (guidelines for manufacture of 14, 18 and 22 carat gold alloys only), IS 3095 (gold solders for use in manufacture of jewellery).[5]
BIS hallmark for gold jewelry consists of several components:
BIS introduced hallmarking for silver jewelry in December 2005 under IS 2112, the standard specification for 'Hallmarking of Silver Jewellery/Artefacts'.[6]
The testing of the jewelry as well as the marking is done in approved Assaying & Hallmarking Centres across the nation. These are private undertakings approved as well as monitored by the BIS.