Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This report highlights a police crackdown on deceptive gold sales in the Hindi market, where fake “Bandel” and rolled gold stamped with counterfeit marks were sold as genuine. While only a few shopkeepers are involved, such practices harm honest jewelers and consumer trust.
Police took action after fake gold was sold at a ‘Bandel’ shop in the Hindi market. Sources said that in rural areas, sellers mark ‘Bandel’ and rolled gold with fake stamps and sell them as real gold. Only a few shopkeepers engage in such deceptive practices, causing losses to other registered jewelers who follow rules and regulations.
With the wedding season beginning, traders in the jewelry market have set up their shops. They are coating ‘Bandel’ or artificial jewelry with a layer of gold and selling it as real. The Jewelry Association has appealed to customers to be cautious. The organization says to purchase ornaments only after thorough inspection.
The wedding season started on Tuesday after the festival. Demand for gold and silver jewelry in wedding households will increase. In rural areas, nearby districts, and several parts of the city, traders are selling ‘Bandel’ (artificial) as real gold.
Officials of the Jewelry Association caught one such shopkeeper in the Hindi market. Sources said that in rural areas, sellers mark ‘Bandel’ and rolled gold with fake stamps and sell them as real gold. Only a few shopkeepers engage in such deceptive practices, causing losses to other registered jewelers who follow rules and regulations.
A source involved in the jewelry trade said that rolled gold is made by bonding a layer of gold to a base metal layer. It is also called gold-filled or gold-bonded. It is used to make cheaper ornaments, but traders polish it and sell it at the price of pure gold.
To make rolled gold, a thin layer of gold is plated onto brass, steel, copper, or other metals. It contains up to 90% copper and 10% aluminum. A thin layer of gold is then applied on top. After this, rolled gold looks like gold. Therefore, customers should keep HUID standards in mind when purchasing.
Sources said that even good jewelers cannot identify these ornaments by sight. In fact, the purest form of gold is 24 carats, which is very soft. This is why gold jewelry cannot be made from it. Ganesh Verma, President of the Hindi Market, said that ornaments are typically made using 14 to 22 carat gold, which contains a maximum of 91.6% gold.
After this, metals like silver, copper, and zinc are added to strengthen the ornament. Therefore, always check the carat before buying gold.
According to jewelry trade sources, many traders are selling ornaments with fake hallmarks. They use fake hallmark symbols to stamp 18 or 14 carat gold as 22 carat and sell it at real prices.
There are many gold and silver business establishments in the city. Some engage in clandestine trading. They have become rich overnight through illegal gold. Registered traders in the Hindi market or nearby areas suffer losses because of them. Customers avoid going to shops to make purchases. Customers should buy only from firms that issue billing vouchers or from trusted jewelers.
Mahesh Verma, State President of the Purvanchal Sonar Samiti, said that before buying ornaments, always check the price and carat. Check the hallmark on the ornament to determine purity. Also, take a purchase certificate from the shopkeeper that mentions purity, weight, and price. Since gold is a trust-based transaction, try to buy from your old and reliable jeweler.
If a few drops of vinegar on the gold ornament do not change its color, the gold is pure. If a magnet does not stick to the ornament, and if the ornament sinks when placed in a bowl of water, the gold is real. Real gold, no matter how light or heavy, sinks in water.
