The Need For Certification
Gold is primarily bought as an article of adornment or as a long-term investment option. When buying gold it is important to know the content and purity of the precious metal. Gold, in its purest form is a soft metal that can easy bend or break, making it necessary for combining it with other metals like copper, silver or nickel. The content of pure gold is measured in caratage, the purest of gold being 24 kt. To ascertain the purity and fineness of gold, gold jewellery is pounded with specific marks.
Standardization, Quality And Certification
A gold hallmark helps in determining its carat value and thereby its price. A hallmark generally indicates the precious metal content of a piece of gold jewellery and a mark of its manufacturer. The Bureau of Indian Standards or BIS, is the standards and certification authority in India. The BIS hallmark consists of five components:
- The stamp of BIS
- The fineness number which denotes the cartage or purity,
- Assaying and Hallmarking centre’s mark,
- The year mark
- The manufacturer’s mark.
- Objectives And Advantages Of Hallmarks
Hallmarked gold jewellery lends credibility to the purity of gold and is easier to sell because of its assured quality. The hallmark is punched or laser engraved on each article of gold jewellery. The principal objective of assaying and hallmarking is to protect the consumer from fraudulent practices. Hallmarking also helps in creating export competitiveness.
A Commitment Of Quality And Consistent Purity
The hallmark is a third party assurance that you get the right purity of gold for the given price. A hallmark certificate determines the value and quality of your jewellery. BIS Hallmarking policies and standards are in adherence to international hallmarking criteria.