Basic Question On Hallmarking

 General Question on Hallmarking

 Q1What is Hallmarking?

Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles. Hallmarks are thus official marks used in many countries as a guarantee of purity or fineness of precious metal articles. In India, at present two precious metals namely gold and silver have been brought under the purview of Hallmarkingng .

Q2.What is the objective behinds instituting Hallmarking Scheme ?

To protect consumer against victimization due to irregular gold or silver quality, and to develop India as a leading gold market centre in the World and to develop export competitiveness

Q3. What are the benefits to Customers?

Provide third party assurance and satisfaction that customer gets right purity of gold (or silver) for the given price (value for money). Hallmark will serve as third party assurance.

Q4 how will Jewellers benefits?

It will provide clear indication of his capability, strong evidence of commitment to quality and assurance of consistency in purity and quality of gold or silver jewellery

Q5.Who Operates Hallmarking Scheme?

It is a voluntary scheme being operated by BIS through its network of Regional/ Branch Offices all over the country. As per this scheme licence is granted to a jeweler for certification of purity of gold (or silver) jewellery in accordance with IS 1417 (IS 2112 for Silver) (see list of licensed jewellers at www.bis.org.in). A licensee jeweller has to get the jewellery hallmarked through any of the BIS recognized Assaying and hallmarking centres (see list of assaying centres at www.bis.org.in under Hallmarking of gold & silver)

Q6.What is the procedure for grant of recognition for to jewelers ?

he jeweller needs to apply to the concerned Branch office of BIS in the prescribed application form along with necessary documents and fees for obtaining a licence. Application Form with details of documents to be submitted and fees as applicable are available on BIS website (www.bis.org.in). The licensed jeweller shall get the Jewellery hallmarked from a BIS recognized Assaying & Hallmarking Centre. It is the prime responsibility of the licensed jeweller to ensure that the jewellery offered for Hallmarking has the declared fineness and homogeneity. List of BIS licensed Jewellers is also available on BIS website. Link for locating hallmarked jeweller in your city has also been provided on BIS website.

Q7.What is the procedure for the grant of recognition of Hallmarking centre?

he recognition of an Assaying and Hallmarking Centre is done by BIS after ensuring that the Centre has requisite infrastructure and quality management system as per IS 15820 : 2009, IS 1417 for Gold and IS 2112 for Silver and assaying (test) facilities as per IS 1418 for Gold and IS 2113 for Silver and also, trained and competent manpower. The list of BIS recognized assaying and hallmarking Centres is also hosted on BIS website

Q8.What control has bis on Jewellers and Assaying an Hallmarking centre?

Regular surveillance audit of Assaying and hallmarking centres and testing of random market samples drawn from licensee jewellers is carried out. Renewal of recognition of hallmarking centres and jewellers is based on performance every three years. If any jeweller or assaying and hallmarking centre is not found conforming to the requirements, action is taken by BIS against erring Firm as per laid down procedure so that credibility of scheme is maintained

 

Q9.What should one look on hallmarked gold articles?

A. (From 01 January 2017)

·          

• BIS Mark
• Purity in carat and Fineness (it can be any of the following)

1) 22K916	Corresponding to 22 Carat
2) 18K750	Corresponding to 18 Carat
3) 14K585	Corresponding to 14 Carat

• Assaying/Hallmarking Centre’s Identification Mark/Number
• Jeweller’s Identification Mark/number

(Before 01 January 2017)Gold Hallmark consists of following

• BIS Mark
• Purity in carat and Fineness (it can be any of the following)

958	Corresponding to 23 Carat
916	Corresponding to 22 Carat
750	Corresponding to 18 Carat
708	Corresponding to 17 Carat
585	Corresponding to 14 Carat
375	Corresponding to 9 Carat

• Assaying/Hallmarking Centre’s Identification Mark (one of the logos as displayed on BIS website)
• Year of Marking – denoted by a code letter e.g.

‘A’ for year 2000	‘B’ for year 2001
‘C’ for year 2002	‘R’ for year 2013

• Jeweller’s Identification Mark

Q10.Does Bis scheme cover the hallmarking of Gold medallion?

Gold medallions (of the shape of coins) of 995 fineness and below are being permitted to be hallmarked.

Q11.How much does it cost to get it hallmarked of gold articles?

Following hallmarking charges are applicable:

·          

• Rs. 35/- per article
• Minimum charges for a consignment shall be Rs. 200/- .

(Services Tax and other levies as applicable shall be extra)

Q12.How much does is cost to get it Hallmarked silver articles ?

Following hallmarking charges are applicable:

• Rs.25/-per article
• Minimum charges per consignment is Rs 150.00.

(Services Tax and other levies as applicable shall be extra)

Q13.What one should look on silver Hallmarked articles ?

A. (From 01 January 2017)

Silver Hallmark consists of following

• BIS Mark

Silver Purity grade/fineness(it can be anyone of the following)

Grade		Fineness
9999	Fine Silver	999.9
9995		999.5
999		999.0
990	Silveralloys forjewellery artefacts	990.0
970		970.0
925		925.0
900		900.0
835		835.0
800		800.0

• Assaying/Hallmarking Centre’s Identification Mark/Number
• Jeweller’s Identification Mark/number

(Before 01 January 2017)

Silver Hallmark consists of following

o        BIS Mark

• Purity grade/fineness (it can be any one of the following )

Grade		Fineness
9999	Fine Silver	999.9
9995		999.5
999		999.0
990	Silver alloys for jewellery artefacts	990.0
970		970.0
925		925.0
900		900.0
835		835.0
800		800.0