Is hallmarking mandatory online?
Yes, wherever the hallmarking order applies. The Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2020 covers the districts listed in its annexure. Since 1 April 2023, no one there may sell, display or offer to sell gold jewellery unless it is hallmarked. A product page is an offer to sell, so the rule reaches your website too. After the August 2026 order, BIS lists 392 covered districts. If you ship across India, the safe course is to hallmark every piece.
What a hallmark looks like now
Since 1 July 2021, a gold hallmark has three marks. The first is the BIS logo. The second is the purity, shown in carats and fineness, such as 22K916 or 18K750. The third is the HUID, a unique six-digit code. The hallmarking centre gets the code from the BIS server and laser marks it on each piece. Older hallmarks carried four marks, including the jeweller's own mark. A hallmark stays valid for the life of the jewellery.
What the order covers and exempts
| Point | What the order says |
|---|---|
| Where it applies | The districts in its annexure, 392 after the August 2026 order |
| What it covers | Gold jewellery and gold artefacts, in grades such as 14K, 18K and 22K |
| Sale rule | No sale, display or offer for sale after 31 March 2023 unless hallmarked under the HUID standard |
| Exempt jewellery | Kundan, Polki and Jadaau, plus watches and fountain pens |
| Exempt sellers | Jewellers with annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh, under the June 2021 amendment |
| Exempt trade | Exports and re-imports, international exhibitions and approved B2B exhibitions |
Getting registered and hallmarked
First, register with BIS as a jeweller. You apply online on the National Single Window System portal, and BIS grants the registration instantly. Then send each piece to a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking centre. The centre tests it and laser marks the BIS logo, the purity grade and the HUID. When the pieces come back, check each HUID in the BIS Care app before you list it.
What your product page should show
A showroom must display its BIS certificate and hallmarking charges. It must also keep a 10x magnifying glass and a weighing scale for buyers. Online, your buyer has none of that. So give them the same proof in the listing. Show the purity grade, the net weight and a sharp photo of the hallmark. Add the HUID, and tell buyers they can check it in the BIS Care app. The app also shows the jeweller's registration number, so keep your details consistent. If you buy back old gold, BIS says buyers may still sell old jewellery to jewellers, hallmarked or not.
If purity falls short
BIS draws random samples from registered jewellers and tests them in its own labs. If a hallmarked piece is below the marked purity, rule 49 of the BIS Rules, 2018 sets the payout. The buyer gets two times the price difference for the shortfall, plus the testing charges. So only list pieces from a centre you trust. On The Storemate, every product gets its own page with a description you control, so the purity, weight and HUID can sit beside the price. For exemptions or district questions, check with a lawyer.