- The sale of gold jewellery will not be allowed without a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number.
- HUID number is a six-digit alphanumeric code.
- It is given to every piece of jewellery at the time of hallmarking.
- It is a unique identifier for each gold item.
- The jewellery is stamped with the unique number manually at the Assaying & Hallmarking centre.
Features:
- The HUID makes it easy to trace the individual piece of jewellery, and is a guarantee of quality.
- Registration of jewellers is automatic with no human interference.
- It is aimed at ensuring the purity of Hallmarked jewellery and check any malpractice.
What is hallmarking?
- Hallmark is a mark on gold jewellery which is affixed by an entity recognised by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to assure its fineness and purity.
A BIS Hallmark consists of three symbols:
- the BIS logo,
- a symbol to indicate the purity and fineness of the jewellery, and
- the HUID.
The three categories of hallmarked jewelleryare:
- 22K916 means that it is a 22 carat gold and the piece of jewellery has 91.6 percent gold.
- 18K750 means that it is an 18 carat gold and the piece of jewellery has 75 percent gold.
- 14K585 means that it is a 14 carat gold and the piece of jewellery has 58.5 percent gold.
Benefits of hallmarking
- Consumer is aware of the quality of the product.
- That piece will fetch a higher price when re-sold.
- Banks are likely to give loans on better terms if the mortgaged jewellery is hallmarked.
SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB