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Understanding the Markings on Hallmarked Jewellery: Components to Look For

Hallmarking is a critical process in the jewellery industry, ensuring the purity and authenticity of precious metals. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandates specific hallmarking components that must be present on all hallmarked jewellery. Understanding these components helps customers verify the quality of the jewellery and ensures compliance with BIS regulations.

Components of Hallmarking Marks

Hallmarked jewellery must display several key components to verify its authenticity and quality. These components include:

BIS Logo:

• The official logo of the Bureau of Indian Standards, indicating that the jewellery meets BIS hallmarking standards.

Purity/Fineness Mark:

• A numerical mark indicating the purity of the precious metal. For example, "916" for 22 karat gold.

Assaying and Hallmarking Centre’s Identification Mark:

• An alphanumeric code representing the BIS-certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centre where the jewellery was tested and hallmarked.

Jeweller’s Identification Mark:

• A unique identification mark or logo representing the jeweller who manufactured or sold the jewellery.

Guidelines for Displaying Hallmarking Information

To help customers understand and verify the hallmark components, jewellers should:

Educate Customers:

• Provide clear and accessible information about the hallmark components and their significance.
• Use posters, brochures, or digital displays to explain each component.

Best Practices for Display:

• Place hallmarking information in prominent locations within the sales outlet, such as near display cases or the checkout area.
• Ensure that the information is legible and easy to understand.

Benefits of Understanding Hallmark Components

Understanding and verifying the components of hallmarking marks offers several benefits:

Ensuring Jewellery Authenticity: Customers can confidently verify the quality and authenticity of the jewellery, ensuring they receive what they are paying for.

Building Customer Trust: Transparent information about hallmarking builds trust between jewellers and customers, enhancing the jeweller's reputation and credibility.

Common Questions and Answers

What are the key components of a hallmark on jewellery? The key components include the BIS logo, purity/fineness mark, Assaying and Hallmarking Centre’s identification mark, and the jeweller’s identification mark.

How can customers verify the hallmark on jewellery? Customers can use a magnifying glass to check the hallmark components on the jewellery and verify the authenticity using the BIS Care App.

Why is it important to display hallmarking information in sales outlets? Displaying hallmarking information educates customers about the significance of the hallmark components, helping them make informed purchasing decisions and building trust.