HUID Hallmark — How to Verify Your Gold Jewellery is Genuine

In 2021, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced the Hallmarking Unique ID — HUID — as a six-digit alphanumeric code laser-engraved on every piece of hallmarked gold jewellery. Since January 2023, HUID is mandatory on all hallmarked gold jewellery sold in India. This means that for the first time in India's history, every certified gold ornament can be individually tracked, verified, and authenticated by any buyer using just a smartphone. Here is a complete guide to using HUID to verify your jewellery.

Step-by-Step: Verifying HUID Using the BIS Care App

The official tool for HUID verification is the BIS Care app, available free on both Android (Google Play Store) and iOS (Apple App Store). Here is how to use it:

Download and install the BIS Care app. Search "BIS Care" on your app store. The official app is published by the Bureau of Indian Standards, Government of India. It is free.
Open the app and on the home screen, tap "Verify HUID" (also labelled "Jewellery" in some versions).
Enter the 6-digit HUID code from your jewellery. The code consists of numbers and uppercase letters (e.g., AB1234, 7X9K2M). Locate it on the jewellery — see below for where to look.
Tap "Search" or "Verify". The app queries the BIS national database in real time.
Read the result. A verified HUID will display a green confirmation screen with the article details.

💡 Pro Tip

You can also verify HUID on the BIS website at bis.gov.in without downloading the app — go to Consumer Services and look for HUID verification. However, the app is faster and works offline after initial load for repeat queries.

What Each Field in the HUID Verification Result Means

When the BIS Care app returns a successful result, you will see several fields. Here is what each one tells you:

Field	What It Means	What to Check
Jeweller Name	The registered BIS jeweller who sent the piece for hallmarking	Should match the shop you bought from
AHC Name	Assaying and Hallmarking Centre that tested and marked the piece	Should be a BIS-recognised centre
Fineness / Purity	The gold purity in parts per thousand (916, 750, 585)	916 = 22K, 750 = 18K, 585 = 14K
Article Type	Type of jewellery — ring, necklace, bangle, chain, etc.	Should match what you bought
Year of Hallmarking	The year the piece was hallmarked	Should be close to purchase date
Gross Weight	Total weight of the article in grams	Should match the weight on your bill

⚠️ Common Misconception

A piece stamped with "HUID 916" does NOT necessarily mean 916 purity. "916" in the HUID code itself is just the purity mark shown on the physical stamp. Purity is confirmed separately in the Fineness field of the HUID database record. Always check the database — the physical stamp alone can be counterfeited.

Where to Find the HUID on Your Jewellery

The HUID is laser-engraved directly onto the metal surface of the jewellery — it is not on a tag or paper. Knowing where to look is important:

Bangles and kadas: On the inner surface of the bangle, typically near the clasp or on a flat section of the interior
Necklaces and chains: On the back of the pendant (if any), or on the clasp/lock of the chain
Earrings: On the post or the back piece; for jhumkas, on a flat area of the setting
Rings: Inside the band (the inner curved surface of the shank)
Mangalsutra pendant: On the reverse of the central pendant piece

The engraving is very small — typically 1–2mm in height. A 10x magnifying loupe or simply the macro mode on your phone camera can make it readable. Some jewellers provide a small card with the HUID printed on it at the time of purchase — keep this card, but always verify it against the physical jewellery.

What to Do if HUID is Not Found in the Database

If the BIS Care app returns "HUID not found" or "Invalid HUID" for a piece sold to you as hallmarked jewellery, take the following steps:

First, double-check that you have read the HUID correctly — confuse 0 (zero) with O (letter), or 1 with I. Try again carefully.
If it still fails, contact the jeweller and ask for an explanation. A legitimate jeweller will be able to show the piece's HUID registration on the BIS portal instantly.
If the jeweller cannot explain it or is evasive, this is a serious red flag — the piece may be fraudulently marked with a fake HUID, or the HUID stamp may have been copied from another piece.
File a complaint with BIS: BIS Consumer helpline is 14480. You can also submit a written complaint at bis.gov.in or at the nearest BIS Regional Office.

⚠️ Warning

A hallmark stamp on jewellery without a valid HUID in the BIS database is not hallmarked jewellery — it is fraudulently marked. Do not accept any explanation that "the database is slow" or "it takes time to update." HUID is registered at the time of hallmarking, before the jewellery is sold.

Older Hallmarked Gold — Before HUID (Pre-2021)

Gold jewellery hallmarked before the HUID system was introduced (i.e., before 2021) carries a different, older 5-component hallmark system. This jewellery is still valid and certified — it simply does not have the new 6-digit HUID code. The five components of the old system are:

BIS logo — the triangular logo of the Bureau of Indian Standards
Purity/Fineness mark — e.g., 916 for 22K, 750 for 18K
Year of hallmarking mark — a letter code representing the year (A=2000, B=2001, and so on)
AHC (Assaying and Hallmarking Centre) mark — the unique identifier of the centre that tested the piece
Jeweller's mark — the registered mark of the jewellery shop

For older pieces, verification cannot be done via the app — you would need the original purchase receipt or a fresh purity test at a reputable AHC to confirm purity. This is worth doing for high-value older pieces before resale or insurance.

HUID and Insurance Claims

When making an insurance claim for lost or stolen jewellery, having the HUID records significantly strengthens your claim. The HUID database records the article type, purity, weight, and the jeweller name — this corroborates your purchase receipt and valuation certificate. Some insurers are now beginning to ask for HUID records as part of their claims documentation process, particularly for high-value items. Always photograph your jewellery (including the HUID visible) and save the BIS verification screenshots as part of your insurance documentation.

State-wise AHC Centres

India has over 1,000 BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) across the country. Major cities have multiple AHCs. If you need a purity verification or want to get old jewellery hallmarked, you can locate the nearest AHC at the BIS website (bis.gov.in → Consumer → Hallmarking → Find AHC). As of 2026, major states all have adequate AHC coverage: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Delhi NCR each have 50–100+ AHCs.

Frequently Asked Questions

My jewellery shows HUID 750 — does that mean 18K? "750" appearing in or near the HUID area typically refers to the purity mark (750 parts per thousand = 75% gold = 18K). However, the actual purity confirmation must come from the Fineness field in the BIS database when you verify the HUID code. Always verify rather than rely on the physical stamp alone.

What if my newly purchased jewellery has no HUID? Since January 2023, selling gold jewellery in India without HUID hallmarking is illegal for registered jewellers. If a jeweller sells you new gold jewellery without HUID, they are either operating illegally or the piece is not what they claim it to be. Refuse to buy, or demand a refund if already purchased.

Is older gold jewellery without HUID illegal to own or sell? No. Owning and selling old gold jewellery (gold purchased before the HUID mandate) is perfectly legal. However, if you are having old jewellery remade or exchanged at a jeweller, the new piece must carry a valid HUID. When selling old jewellery for exchange or cash, you can do so freely — the HUID mandate is on new sales, not on possession of old pieces.

Can I check multiple pieces at once? Currently the BIS Care app allows one HUID verification at a time. For large quantities (e.g., inventory checks), the BIS portal offers a batch verification facility for registered jewellers.