Mandatory Gold Hallmarking! What will happen to your OLD jewellery? Will the new rule affect them? Check HERE

The system of mandatory hallmarking has already been introduced from June 16 in 256 districts across the country, which have assaying and hallmarking centres!  By making hallmarking mandatory, people will now be assured of getting pure gold and they will be saved from fraudulent activities.  

“Mandatory Hallmark certification of gold jewellery is good for both customers and businesses,” said Piyush Goyal, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Railways and Commerce & Industry.

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Gold of additional carats 20, 23 and 24 will also be allowed for hallmarking.  There has always been a high demand from jewellers to increase the grades of gold purity for hallmarking.  Also, in order to give adequate time to the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of gold jewellery, there would be no penalties till August end, Goyal mentioned. 

Watches, fountain pens and special types of jewellery such as Kundan, Polki and Jadau will be exempted from hallmarking. 

Any impact on old jewellery? 

Jewellers can continue to buy back old gold jewellery without hallmark from the consumer. On the other hand, old jewellery can be got hallmarked as it is, if feasible by the jeweller or after melting and making new jewellery.  

“Jewellers can continue to buy back old gold jewellery without hallmark from consumer and in order to give adequate time to the manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of Gold Jewellery, there would be no penalties till August-end,” mentioned Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). 

Under the hallmarking scheme of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), jewellers are registered for selling hallmarked jewellery and recognise testing and hallmarking centres. Hallmarking will enable consumers/jewellery buyers to make the right choice and save them from any unnecessary confusion while buying gold. Currently, only 30 per cent of Indian gold jewellery is hallmarked. 

The hallmarking of jewellery/artefacts is required to enhance the credibility of gold jewellery and customer satisfaction through third party assurance for the marked purity/fineness of gold, consumer protection.