Buying Gold on Dhanteras Avoid fake Hallmarks Gold: How to Check Gold Purity Read Here

Before Buying gold on Dhanteras requires more than checking its price and design. Customers should verify the BIS hallmark, six-digit HUID number, gold purity and carat through the BIS Care App. Always check the jewellery weight and get a proper bill. These simple steps can help buyers avoid fake hallmarks and gold purity-related problems.

How to Check Gold Purity before buying gold on dhanteras even when it is hallmarked

Buying gold on Dhanteras is considered lucky in India. Many people buy gold coins, jewellery and other gold items on this day. However, checking the price and design is not enough when buying gold. It is equally important to check its purity. Today, most gold jewellery comes with a hallmark, but have you ever wondered whether gold can still be impure even if it has a hallmark?

In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) manages the gold hallmarking system. Its main purpose is to help customers get gold of the correct purity and protect them from fake or mixed-quality jewellery. However, cases of fake hallmarks and incorrect jewellery details can still happen. According to a report published in October 2026, BIS took action against two jewellery shops in Ahmedabad in July 2026. These shops were found selling gold jewellery with fake hallmarks and without the required HUID numbers. This shows that simply seeing a hallmark on gold jewellery is not enough before making a purchase.

Before buying gold, customers should check three important marks on the jewellery. These include the BIS logo, the purity mark and a six-digit HUID number. HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. It is a unique number given to every hallmarked gold jewellery item. Customers can use this number to check important details about the jewellery.

Customers can check the HUID number through the BIS Care App on their mobile phones. First, open the app and select the ‘Verify HUID’ option. Then enter the six-digit number printed on the jewellery. The app may show details such as the jewellery’s purity, identification, jeweller and hallmarking centre. Customers should compare these details with the actual jewellery before buying it. If the information on the app does not match the jewellery, ask the jeweller for an explanation before making the purchase.

One important thing to understand is that a valid HUID number alone does not provide a complete guarantee of the actual purity of the jewellery. There may also be a risk of someone copying a genuine number and using it on another piece of jewellery. Therefore, customers should check the hallmark marks and match the details carefully.

Customers should also understand the difference between gold carats and purity. For example, 22-carat gold carries the 22K916 mark, which means it contains 91.6% pure gold. Similarly, 18-carat gold carries the 18K750 mark, while 14-carat gold carries the 14K585 mark. This means that not all hallmarked gold jewellery is 24-carat gold. Different carat levels have different gold purity. So, always check the carat before buying jewellery.

Getting a proper bill is also very important when purchasing gold. Customers should ask the jeweller for a proper bill that clearly mentions the jewellery details, actual gold weight, carat, purity and hallmarking charges. The bill should also show the gold price, making charges and other costs separately. This bill can help customers if they face any problems or disputes in the future.

If a customer has doubts about the purity of hallmarked jewellery, they can get it tested at a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. If the test shows that the gold purity is lower than the purity mentioned on the jewellery, the customer may be eligible for compensation and testing charges under BIS rules.

Buying gold on Dhanteras is not just a tradition; it is also an important financial decision. Therefore, customers should not depend only on the jeweller’s words or the hallmark printed on the jewellery. Always check the BIS logo, HUID number, carat, weight and proper bill before making a purchase. A few minutes of careful checking can help protect you from fake hallmarks and gold purity-related problems.