Compliance
Silver hallmarking in India: HUID, 925 purity testing and the machines you need
Silver hallmarking in India is still voluntary in 2026. Since 1 September 2025, any silver piece that is hallmarked must carry a six-digit HUID beside the BIS mark and a purity grade such as 925, and more than 90 lakh pieces have been hallmarked that way. For a silver maker, the practical steps are to test each lot before it goes for hallmarking, keep alloys separate, and keep your own marks apart from the hallmark.
· 7 min read · By Dhyey Mehta
Silver hallmarking in India is growing fast, and most of it is voluntary. Since September 2025, every hallmarked silver piece carries a unique HUID code, and BIS reports more than 90 lakh such pieces in just over a year. This guide explains what is required, what is not, which purity grades exist, and which machines matter for a silver jewellery maker.
The rules come from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Government of India's press release of 4 September 2025. This is a practical guide, not legal advice.
Is silver hallmarking mandatory in 2026?
No. As of October 2026, silver hallmarking is voluntary. Several websites say it became mandatory in September 2025. That is not correct. What changed on 1 September 2025 is this: if a silver article is hallmarked, it must now carry a HUID.
BIS has said publicly that it wants the system ready before silver hallmarking becomes mandatory, and it has not given a date. Gold is different: gold hallmarking is mandatory in 392 districts, which our HUID hallmarking guide covers.
What a HUID silver hallmark contains
- The BIS standard mark with the word SILVER.
- The purity grade, for example 925.
- The HUID, a six-digit alphanumeric code unique to that piece.
The hallmark is applied by a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) after testing, not by the jeweller. BIS counts 327 centres recognised for silver as of October 2026. Silver is tested under IS 2112 and IS 2113.
Silver purity grades
| Grade | Minimum silver content | Also called |
|---|---|---|
| 999 | 99.9% | Fine silver |
| 990, 970, 958 | 99.0%, 97.0%, 95.8% | - |
| 925 | 92.5% | Sterling silver |
| 835, 800 | 83.5%, 80.0% | - |
Those seven grades are the ones listed for IS 2112:2025 in the government's September 2025 release. BIS's October 2026 scheme brief also lists a 900 grade, following an amendment to the standard published that month.
How fast silver hallmarking is growing
- More than 90 lakh silver articles were hallmarked with a HUID between 1 September 2025 and 15 October 2026 (BIS).
- 925 and 800 make up nearly 95% of hallmarked silver items, and the southern states account for about 62% of silver hallmarking, according to figures BIS gave in August 2026.
- In a BIS survey, items of 10 to 50 grams (anklets, chains, rings and bracelets) made up nearly 74% of demand for hallmarked silver.
- BIS lists 26,469 jewellers registered for silver hallmarking.
The market behind it has been volatile. The Silver Institute's World Silver Survey 2026 reports that silver passed US$121 an ounce on 29 January 2026, and that Indian silver jewellery fabrication fell 20% in 2025 as prices rose, while Indian demand for silver bars and coins rose 33%. As with gold, high prices push buyers toward lighter pieces and toward proof of purity.
Why a silver maker should hallmark even though it is voluntary
- Buyers can check it. A HUID can be verified in the BIS CARE app, which a plain "925" stamp cannot.
- You will be ready if it becomes mandatory. BIS has said that is the direction, without a date.
- The cost is known. ₹35 per article, minimum ₹150 per consignment, plus taxes, under the 2026 hallmarking regulations.
The machines that matter in silver jewellery manufacturing
Purity testing before hallmarking
A lot that comes back from the AHC under grade costs time and charges. An XRF analyzer checks your melts and finished lots first, without damaging them, and reads the whole alloy rather than just the silver.
| Analyzer | Elements covered | Published accuracy |
|---|---|---|
| Signet FSDD | Up to 72 elements, silver among them | ±0.10% on gold content. Silver figure confirmed in writing |
| Signet Si-Pin | Sodium (11) to uranium (92), except light elements | Confirmed in writing with your quotation |
We state only what our catalogue publishes. Both instruments are sold mainly for gold, so if silver is your main metal, ask for the silver accuracy figure in writing before you buy. The portable gold tester is a karat tester for gold and is not the tool for silver.
Stone setting for studded silver
Studded silver with diamonds or CZ needs setting capacity just like gold. Our X4 Pro Plus automatic wax setting machine is specified for gold, silver, brass and other metals, sets up to 15,000 stones per hour across both stations, and runs on single-phase power.
Welding and repair
Silver reflects more laser light than gold and carries heat away quickly, so it needs more energy per pulse. Our 200 W jewellery laser welding machine is specified for gold, silver, platinum and palladium.
Your own marks
The hallmark and HUID come from the AHC. Your brand logo, design numbers and lot codes can be marked in-house with a laser marker such as the Smart Mark. Its parameters are confirmed in writing with your quotation.
A checklist for silver jewellery makers
- Decide which grades you make, usually 925 for jewellery, and keep alloys separate on the floor.
- Register for hallmarking with BIS if you plan to sell hallmarked silver.
- Test each lot before it goes to the AHC.
- Keep your own marks (brand, design and lot codes) separate from the hallmark.
- Tell customers how to check a HUID in the BIS CARE app.
Making silver and want to know what to test, set or mark in-house? Send an enquiry or call +91 98216 12340.
Answers
Related questions
Is silver hallmarking mandatory in India?
No. As of October 2026, silver hallmarking in India is voluntary. Since 1 September 2025, any silver article that is hallmarked must carry a six-digit HUID, but a jeweller may still sell silver without a hallmark. BIS has said it wants the system ready before making silver hallmarking mandatory, and has not announced a date.
What does a silver hallmark look like?
A HUID silver hallmark has three parts: the BIS standard mark with the word SILVER, the purity grade such as 925, and a six-digit alphanumeric HUID that is unique to the piece. The HUID can be checked in the BIS CARE app.
What purity grades can silver be hallmarked in?
IS 2112:2025 lists 999, 990, 970, 958, 925, 835 and 800, in parts per thousand. BIS's October 2026 scheme brief also lists 900, following an amendment to the standard. In practice, 925 and 800 make up nearly 95% of hallmarked silver, according to BIS.
What does 925 silver mean?
925 silver, also called sterling silver, contains at least 925 parts per thousand of pure silver, or 92.5%. The rest is another metal, most often copper, which makes the silver harder and better for jewellery.
How much does silver hallmarking cost per piece?
Under the BIS (Hallmarking) Amendment Regulations 2026, published on 14 September 2026, the charge for silver is ₹35 per article, with a minimum of ₹150 per consignment, plus taxes.
Can an XRF machine test silver purity?
Yes, XRF reads silver along with the other metals in an alloy. Both of our benchtop Signet analyzers cover silver: the Signet FSDD lists silver among its 72 elements and the Signet Si-Pin reads elements from sodium to uranium. Their published accuracy figures are for gold, so ask for the silver figure in writing with your quotation.