Editor’s Note
The Bureau of Indian Standards has expanded its mandatory hallmarking regime to include 9-carat gold jewelry, effective this July. This move aims to certify the purity of a wider range of gold products for consumers.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has included 9-carat gold in the list of mandatory hallmarking categories as of Friday. The new rule has been implemented starting this July. Hallmarking confirms the purity of gold. Following the new announcement, hallmarking will now be mandatory for 9-carat jewelry as well. Until now, hallmarking was available only for jewelry up to 24K, 23K, 22K, 20K, 18K, and 14K.
The All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council stated that all jewelers and hallmarking centers must now comply with the new BIS rules. According to the new rule, 9-carat gold (375 ppt) now falls under the mandatory hallmarking purview. Previously, it was not mandatory for 9-carat gold, but now it must be hallmarked to provide customers with accurate information about the purity of the gold.
This was stated by Suvankar Sen, MD and CEO of Senco Gold Limited. He added that the new BIS standards have also revised some definitions and rules.
These rules will not be mandatory for gold watches and pens. According to the rule, a gold coin will be considered one that is made of 24K pure gold, manufactured only by a government mint or refinery, and has no monetary value like currency. Hallmarking under the BIS Act 2016 confirms the quantity of precious metal in jewelry and artifacts.
