Compliance
HUID hallmarking in 2026: what jewellers must know about XRF testing and laser marking
A HUID hallmark has three parts: the BIS mark, the purity grade such as 22K916, and a six-digit code unique to the piece. It is mandatory for gold sold in 392 districts, and only a BIS-recognised hallmarking centre can apply it, after XRF screening and fire assay. A jeweller's own XRF analyzer checks each lot before it goes for hallmarking. A jeweller's own laser marker is for brand and lot marks, never the hallmark.
· 8 min read · By Dhyey Mehta
Every piece of gold jewellery sold in a hallmarking district in India must carry a HUID hallmark, and in 2026 BIS has tightened how that hallmark is recorded and checked. This guide explains what a HUID hallmark is, where the rules apply, who tests and marks the gold, and what XRF testing and laser marking actually do for a jeweller or a manufacturer.
The rules below come from Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) orders, guidelines and its hallmarking scheme brief updated in October 2026. This is a practical guide, not legal advice. For a ruling on your own case, ask BIS or your trade association.
What a HUID hallmark is
Since 1 July 2021, a hallmark on gold has three parts:
- The BIS standard mark, the triangle logo.
- The purity grade and fineness, for example 22K916 for 22 karat gold of at least 916 parts per thousand.
- The HUID, a six-digit alphanumeric code that is unique to that piece.
Older hallmarks also carried the hallmarking centre's mark and the jeweller's mark. Since 1 April 2023, gold jewellery and artefacts sold in a mandatory district must carry the HUID hallmark. A buyer can check any HUID in the BIS CARE app.
Where mandatory hallmarking applies in 2026
Mandatory hallmarking has been extended district by district. The eighth phase, notified on 3 August 2026, added seven districts and brought the total to 392 districts. Many articles online still quote 380 or 385; those figures are out of date.
BIS currently lists seven gold grades:
| Grade | 9K | 14K | 18K | 20K | 22K | 23K | 24K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum fineness (ppt) | 375 | 585 | 750 | 833 | 916 | 958 | 995 |
The Hallmarking Order exempts some articles and sellers, including:
- articles weighing less than 2 grams;
- jewellers with an annual turnover of up to ₹40 lakh;
- Kundan, Polki and Jadau jewellery;
- articles for export, gold thread, bullion and coins, and articles for medical, dental, scientific or industrial use.
Who tests and marks the gold
Not the jeweller. Testing and marking are done by a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC). As of 15 October 2026, BIS counts 1,565 AHCs and more than 65 crore gold articles hallmarked with a HUID.
The BIS guidelines for AHCs, revised in June 2026, set the order of work:
- Receipt and weighing of the consignment.
- XRF screening. If XRF finds an article more than 5 parts per thousand below its declared fineness, the centre does not accept it for assaying and returns it to the jeweller.
- Sampling and fire assay, the cupellation method of IS 1418.
- Laser marking of the BIS mark, grade and HUID. The guidelines require a hallmarking laser to be used for nothing except hallmarking.
What changed in 2026
- Photographs and weight on record. Since 8 June 2026, BIS captures photographs and the weight of hallmarked gold articles, and consumers can see them in the BIS CARE app.
- Less manual entry at the centre. The AHC guidelines ask that a centre's XRF machine, weighing balances and laser have the capability to transfer data directly to the centre's software. BIS has not published a technical interface or a deadline for this, so treat any claim of an "approved BIS API" with care.
- Higher charges. From the BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations 2026, the charge for gold is ₹75 per article with a minimum of ₹200 per consignment, plus taxes.
- More districts, now 392, as above.
BIS also enforces the rules through raids. The BIS Act 2016 provides for penalties under section 29, including fines of at least ₹1 lakh that can rise to five times the value of the articles concerned. Which provision applies depends on the offence.
Where XRF testing fits for a jeweller or manufacturer
BIS does not require a jeweller to own an XRF analyzer. Many manufacturers and larger jewellers buy one anyway, because the AHC's 5 ppt screen means a batch that is slightly under its declared fineness comes back, and the time and charges are lost. Testing in-house catches it first.
- Every melt, before casting, so an alloy error stays one crucible and not a whole tree.
- Every lot before it goes for hallmarking.
- Old gold taken in exchange, before it is paid for or melted.
| Instrument | What it reads | Published figures | Price incl. GST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signet FSDD | Full alloy, up to 72 elements | ±0.10% on gold content, 1%–99.99% Au, 145 ± 15 eV | ₹18,99,000 |
| Signet Si-Pin | Full alloy, ppm to 99.99% | 165 ± 5 eV, 25 kg | On quotation |
| Signet-PC | XRF analyzer | Datasheet on request | ₹6,45,000 |
| Portable gold tester | Karat only, 0 to 24K (electronic, not XRF) | Battery powered | ₹1,35,000 |
Our XRF gold testing guide explains accuracy, resolution and test time in detail.
Where laser marking fits
The hallmark and HUID are the AHC's job. What a factory or showroom marks itself is everything else that makes a piece traceable or saleable:
- your brand logo or trademark;
- design numbers, lot or batch codes for your own stock control;
- names, dates and messages for personalised pieces.
A fibre laser marks these permanently without cutting into the piece. Our Smart Mark is built for this kind of marking on production floors, and the Smart-Cube is the compact unit for a bench where space is tight. Our catalogue does not publish a full parameter table for either, so laser power, marking field and software are confirmed in writing with your quotation.
If you run, or are setting up, an Assaying and Hallmarking Centre, ask every supplier, including us, to confirm in writing how their XRF and laser equipment meets the data-transfer requirement in the current BIS AHC guidelines.
A short checklist for jewellers
- Check whether your district is on the mandatory list, and whether any exemption applies to you.
- Sell gold jewellery in a mandatory district only with the three-part HUID hallmark.
- Test each lot before sending it for hallmarking, so nothing comes back under the 5 ppt screen.
- Test old gold before you pay for it or melt it.
- Keep your own marks (brand, design and lot codes) separate from the hallmark.
- Show customers how to verify a HUID in the BIS CARE app. It builds trust at the counter.
Questions about testing or marking on your floor? Send an enquiry or call +91 98216 12340.
Answers
Related questions
What is HUID in hallmarking?
HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. It is a six-digit alphanumeric code marked on each hallmarked piece of gold jewellery, alongside the BIS standard mark and the purity grade such as 22K916. Every HUID is different, so a single piece can be traced and checked in the BIS CARE app.
Is HUID hallmarking mandatory in India?
Yes, in the districts covered by mandatory hallmarking. Since 1 April 2023, gold jewellery and artefacts sold in those districts must carry a HUID hallmark. After the eighth phase, notified on 3 August 2026, mandatory hallmarking covers 392 districts. Exemptions include articles under 2 grams and jewellers with an annual turnover of up to ₹40 lakh.
Can a jeweller put the hallmark or HUID on jewellery with their own laser marking machine?
No. The BIS mark, purity grade and HUID are applied only by a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre after it has tested the article. BIS guidelines also require a centre's hallmarking laser to be used for nothing except hallmarking. A jeweller's own laser marker is for brand logos, design or lot numbers and personalisation.
How do I check the HUID of my jewellery?
Use the "Verify HUID" feature in the BIS CARE app and enter the six-character code. Since 8 June 2026, BIS has also recorded photographs and the weight of hallmarked gold articles, which consumers can see in the app.
How do Assaying and Hallmarking Centres test gold?
Under BIS guidelines, an article is screened by XRF first, then sampled and fire-assayed, and only then laser marked. If XRF finds an article more than 5 parts per thousand below its declared fineness, the centre does not accept it for assaying and returns it to the jeweller.
Why would a jeweller buy an XRF machine if the hallmarking centre tests the gold?
To know the result before the centre does. Checking each melt and lot in-house catches a low-fineness batch while it can still be corrected, instead of having it returned. It also lets you test old gold taken in exchange. BIS does not require jewellers to own an XRF machine, so this is a quality-control choice.
What is the hallmarking charge per piece in 2026?
Under the BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations 2026, published on 14 September 2026, the charge for gold is ₹75 per article with a minimum of ₹200 per consignment, plus taxes. For silver it is ₹35 per article with a minimum of ₹150.