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INTRODUCTION OF HALLMARKING IN INDIA

BIS CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR HALLMARKING OF GOLD JEWELLERY

Government of India' has identified BIS a sole agency in India to operate this scheme. BIS hallmarking Scheme is voluntary in nature and is operating under BIS Act, Rules and Regulations. It operates on the basis of trust and thus it is desirable that aspect of quality control is in built in the system responsible for managing quality.

The BIS Hallmarking Scheme has been aligned with International criteria on hallmarking (Vienna Convention 1972). As per this scheme, licence is granted to the jewellers by BIS under Product Certification Scheme. The BIS certified jewellers can get their jewellery hallmarked from any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. The recognition to an Assaying and Hallmarking Centre is given against BIS criteria Doc: HMS/RAHC/GO1 which is in line with International criteria on Marking and Control of Precious metals, As per this scheme the jewellery retailer / manufacturer has to obtain a licence from BIS for use of Standard Mark (Hallmark) on their jewellery. After grant of licence, the jeweller (retailer/manufacturer has right to register himself with any of the BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centres to get his jewellery hallmarked.

Hallmark

A hallmark, consists of five components i.e. BIS Mark, the Fineness number (corresponding to given caratage), Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's Mark, Jeweller's Mark and year of Marking denoted by a code letter and decided by BIS (e.g. code letter `A' was approved by BIS for year 2000, `B' being used for the year 2001 and `C' for 2002). The marking is done either using punches or laser marking machine The BIS hallmark, a mark of conformity widely accepted by the consumer bestow the additional confidence to the consumer on the purity of gold jewellery.

Design of Hallmark on Gold Jewellery

1. BIS Corporate logo

2. Number:Carat 958 	Corresponding to 23 Carat 916	Corresponding to 22 Carat 875 	Corresponding to 21 Carat 750 	Corresponding to 18 Carat 585 	Corresponding to 14 Carat 375 	Corresponding to 9 Carat

3. Assaying and Hallmarking Centre's Mark: A&HMC Logo: The Logo of BIS recognized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre where the jewellery has been assayed and hallmarked

4. Year of Marking: Code Letter: Code letter represents the year of hallmarking of jewellery and is decided by BIS e.g. letter 'A' Donates Year 2000

5. Jewellers Mark: Jewellers Logo Logo of BIS Certified Jeweller/Jewellery Manufacturer

Ashish Mehta 11:17, 28 April 2011 (UTC)