HUID Number on Gold Jewellery: What It Is, How to Check It, and Why It Matters (2026)

Every piece of hallmarked gold jewellery sold in India today carries a six-character alphanumeric code stamped onto it — this is the HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification number). Introduced as part of India's mandatory gold hallmarking revolution, HUID has transformed how millions of Indian consumers can verify the purity of their gold. Whether you are buying a 22K bridal necklace worth ₹2 lakhs or a simple pair of 18K gold earrings, understanding HUID can protect you from fraud and ensure you receive exactly the gold purity you pay for. This guide explains everything — from what HUID is and how the hallmarking system changed, to step-by-step verification using the BIS Care app.

India's Gold Purity Problem Before HUID

For decades, India had a voluntary hallmarking system. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) ran a hallmarking scheme since 2000, but participation was optional. The result: most gold jewellery sold in India — particularly in smaller towns and the unorganised sector — was never independently tested. Jewellers self-declared purity. A piece sold as "22K gold" might actually be 20K or 21K. Over a lifetime of gold accumulation (Indians collectively hold an estimated 25,000 tonnes of private gold), this purity shortfall translated into billions of rupees in losses for consumers.

Even where hallmarking was done, the old system had a fundamental flaw: it contained no unique identifier per piece. The old hallmark stamp showed the BIS logo, the purity code (like 916 for 22K), the Assay and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) code, and a year letter — but no way to verify that THIS specific piece had gone through the hallmarking process. A dishonest jeweller could theoretically copy the stamp pattern onto sub-standard gold. There was no central database to check against.

The HUID Revolution: Mandatory Hallmarking from April 2022

The Government of India, through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), made gold hallmarking mandatory in phases:

• June 2021: Mandatory hallmarking began in 256 districts where BIS-approved Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) existed. All gold jewellery of 14K, 18K, and 22K must be hallmarked before sale.
• April 1, 2022: HUID (the unique 6-character alphanumeric code) became the standard. The old hallmarking format (with year letter and AHC code) was phased out. Every piece must now receive a HUID from the BIS central database.
• Ongoing expansion: Coverage has expanded progressively to cover more districts and purity grades (20K, 23K, 24K also now covered).

The legal basis is the BIS Act 2016, which gives BIS the power to mandate quality standards for any product. Non-compliance — including selling gold jewellery without mandatory hallmarking in covered districts — can result in fines up to ₹1 lakh and/or imprisonment up to one year for jewellers.

What Is HUID? The Technical Details

HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. Each HUID is:

• A 6-character alphanumeric code using a mix of capital letters and numbers (for example: AB1234 or K7P2X9)
• Assigned to a single, specific piece of jewellery — no two pieces share the same HUID
• Registered in the BIS HUID central database at the time of hallmarking at an AHC
• Stamped physically onto the jewellery piece at the AHC

When an AHC hallmarks a piece, it: (1) tests the gold purity using fire assay or XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analysis, (2) stamps the new hallmark format on the piece, and (3) registers the piece's details — including purity, metal type, jeweller name, AHC name, and date — against the HUID in the BIS central server. This creates an unbreakable digital audit trail for every hallmarked piece in India.

How to Read the New Hallmark Stamp

The new HUID-era hallmark (post-April 2022) contains exactly THREE components, stamped together on the jewellery:

1. BIS Logo — a triangular mark with the India map inside it (the Bureau of Indian Standards official logo). This confirms the piece was certified through the BIS system.
2. Purity Mark — a 3-digit number indicating the gold's fineness: 999, 958, 916, 875, 750, 585, or 375 (see purity table below). This is the parts-per-thousand representation of the gold content.
3. HUID — the 6-character alphanumeric unique ID that links this specific piece to its record in the BIS central database.

Notably absent from the new hallmark: the year letter (A for 2000, B for 2001 etc. used in the old system) and the AHC identification code. This information is now captured digitally in the BIS database against the HUID, rather than being physically stamped. The simplified 3-mark system is cleaner and harder to counterfeit.

Gold Purity Marks Reference Table

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

The BIS Care mobile app is the official consumer tool to verify any HUID. It is free, developed by BIS, and available on both Android and iOS. Here is exactly how to use it:

Step 1: Download BIS Care

Search for "BIS Care" on the Google Play Store (Android) or Apple App Store (iOS). The official app is published by the Bureau of Indian Standards and has the BIS logo. Download and install — it is free.

Step 2: Open the App and Navigate to HUID Verification

Open BIS Care. On the home screen, you will see several options including "Verify HUID," "Check Hallmarking Centre," and "File Complaint." Tap "Verify HUID."

Step 3: Enter the HUID Code

Type the 6-character HUID exactly as it appears on your jewellery piece. The code is case-insensitive (entering it in uppercase or lowercase both work). Double-check each character carefully — the code uses both letters and numbers, and similar-looking characters (like O and 0, or 1 and I) can be confused.

Step 4: View the Verification Result

After entering the HUID and tapping "Verify," the app will show you the registered details from the BIS database:

• Metal type (gold, silver, platinum)
• Purity (e.g., 916 for 22K gold)
• Name of the Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) that tested and hallmarked the piece
• Date of hallmarking
• Name of the jeweller who submitted the piece for hallmarking

Step 5: Cross-Check the Details

Verify that the purity shown in the app matches the purity stamp on the jewellery and the purity you were sold. If the app shows 916 (22K) and the piece is physically stamped 916 — and the AHC and jeweller name are real — you can be highly confident the jewellery is genuine 22K gold.

What If the HUID Is Not Found?

There are a few legitimate reasons a HUID might not return a result:

• Recent hallmarking: There can be a short delay (typically a few hours to a day) between when an AHC hallmarks a piece and when the data uploads to the central BIS server. Try verifying again the next day.
• Data entry error: The AHC may have made an error registering the HUID. Contact the jeweller and ask them to resolve it with the AHC.
• Fraudulent HUID: If the HUID consistently returns no result or wrong details, the piece may have a fake or copied HUID stamp. This is grounds for filing a consumer complaint and should be reported to BIS (via the app's "File Complaint" feature or the BIS consumer helpline at 1800-11-4068).

Old Hallmarked Gold — What You Need to Know

If you own gold jewellery purchased before April 2022, it likely carries the OLD hallmark format: the BIS triangular logo, the year letter (a letter indicating the certification year), the AHC code (letters identifying which assay centre certified it), and the purity mark. This old format does NOT have a HUID.

Key facts about old hallmarked gold:

• Old hallmarked gold is entirely valid and legal. There is no requirement to re-hallmark it.
• Old hallmarks cannot be verified digitally via BIS Care because they predate the HUID database system.
• Old hallmarks can still be verified by checking the AHC code against the BIS registry of certified assay centres — though this requires more effort.
• For resale purposes, old BIS hallmarked gold is accepted by reputable jewellers at the appropriate purity-based value.
• You may optionally choose to have old pieces re-hallmarked at an AHC to receive a HUID, but this is not required and involves a small fee.

Old vs New Hallmark: Side-by-Side Comparison

Non-Hallmarked Gold — Your Rights and Options

Non-hallmarked gold remains legal to own. If you inherited gold jewellery, received it as a gift, or purchased it before mandatory hallmarking took effect in your district, you are under no legal obligation to get it hallmarked. However, practical implications include:

• Resale value: Jewellers will typically apply a kacha (unverified) purity deduction when buying back non-hallmarked gold, since they cannot verify purity without testing. You may receive 1–3% less per gram than for hallmarked equivalent-purity gold.
• Exchange at jewellers: Major jewellery chains increasingly require purity testing (XRF or touchstone) for non-hallmarked gold before exchange. This is standard practice, not discrimination.
• Getting it hallmarked: You can take any gold jewellery to a BIS-recognised AHC (Assaying and Hallmarking Centre) for hallmarking. The process: submit the piece, AHC tests purity, stamps the new HUID hallmark, registers it in BIS database, returns the piece. Fee: approximately ₹35–₹45 per piece (BIS regulated fee; AHCs may charge slightly more). The piece should be returned within 1–2 days typically.

For Jewellers: Compliance Requirements

Jewellers in mandatory hallmarking districts must:

• Hold a valid BIS licence to sell hallmarked jewellery (BIS registration is mandatory)
• Submit every piece of covered gold jewellery to a BIS-recognised AHC for hallmarking before sale
• Never sell jewellery with self-applied or duplicate hallmark stamps
• Keep records of HUID numbers for pieces sold (for consumer complaints and audits)

Penalties under the BIS Act 2016 for non-compliance: first offence can attract a fine up to ₹1,00,000 and/or imprisonment up to one year. Repeat offences carry higher penalties. The government has conducted raids on jewellers selling non-hallmarked or fake-hallmarked gold in mandatory areas, with significant media coverage of prosecutions since 2022.

BIS Care App: Full Verification Results Explained

How to Find a BIS-Recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC)

If you want to get old jewellery hallmarked, or if you want to verify that your local jeweller is using a legitimate AHC, BIS maintains an official registry. To find AHCs:

1. Go to bis.gov.in and navigate to "Hallmarking"
2. Select "List of Assaying and Hallmarking Centres"
3. Filter by state and district to find AHCs near you
4. You can also call the BIS consumer helpline at 1800-11-4068 (toll-free) to get AHC information

Major cities with multiple AHCs include Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, Pune, Kolkata, and Bengaluru. In smaller towns and rural areas, the nearest AHC may be in the district headquarters. Your jeweller is legally required to use a BIS-recognised AHC — never a self-operated "testing" facility.

Buying Gold Jewellery: A Practical HUID Checklist

Use this checklist every time you buy gold jewellery of meaningful value (above ₹5,000):

• Is the jeweller displaying a valid BIS licence certificate in the store?
• Does the piece have a visible hallmark stamp with three components: BIS logo, purity number, and 6-character HUID?
• Have you verified the HUID in the BIS Care app before completing payment?
• Does the purity shown in the BIS Care app match the purity stamp on the piece AND the purity you are paying for?
• Is the AHC name and date of hallmarking reasonable (not a future date)?
• Does your purchase invoice separately state: weight in grams, purity, gold rate applied, making charges, and GST?
• Is the HUID number written on your invoice?
• For online purchases: does the platform provide the HUID before shipment and can you verify it?

HUID and Digital Gold: An Important Distinction

HUID applies to physical gold jewellery that passes through a BIS Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. Digital gold products — including Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs), Gold ETFs, and digital gold stored on platforms like PhonePe or Paytm Gold — are not physical jewellery and do not have HUIDs. These products have their own quality guarantees:

• Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs): Issued by the Government of India via RBI; backed by government guarantee; price linked to IBJA 999 purity gold rates. No physical delivery normally — no HUID needed.
• Gold ETFs: Hold physical gold in demat form; custodians are SEBI-regulated; underlying gold is 999 purity. No individual HUID — trust backed by regulatory oversight.
• Digital Gold (Augmont, SafeGold, MMTC-PAMP): Physical gold stored in vaults; 999 purity; vault audited by third parties. When you take physical delivery (converting digital gold to a coin or bar), the delivered piece will carry the relevant hallmark including HUID.

The HUID system protects you when you handle physical gold jewellery. For investment in gold, the digital/paper gold route has its own institutional safeguards that make HUID irrelevant for that mode of investment.

Making the Most of Your Gold Investment: Purity and Resale

Understanding HUID goes hand in hand with understanding how purity affects your investment returns. When you buy 22K (916) gold jewellery and later sell or exchange it, the resale value is calculated on the gold content:

• For a 10-gram 22K chain weighing 10g: gold content = 10 × 0.916 = 9.16 grams of pure gold
• At a gold rate of ₹9,500 per gram (24K), the intrinsic metal value = 9.16 × ₹9,500 = approximately ₹87,000
• Hallmarked (HUID-verified) gold receives this full calculation; non-hallmarked gold may be discounted 2–5% for purity uncertainty

Over a lifetime of gold accumulation — which for an average Indian family might be 500–1,000 grams — the difference between hallmarked and non-hallmarked gold can amount to ₹50,000–₹1,00,000 or more in resale proceeds. HUID hallmarking is not just consumer protection; it is a meaningful financial safeguard.

Consumer FAQs

Does HUID affect the monetary value of my gold?

HUID itself does not add or subtract monetary value — it verifies the purity value that was always there. What HUID does is confirm you are receiving the purity you paid for. A HUID-hallmarked 22K piece should command full 916 purity-based resale value. The value comes from the gold purity; HUID is the verification system that certifies it.

What if the HUID stamp on my jewellery is scratched or worn off?

If the HUID is illegible or worn off, you cannot digitally verify the piece. This does not necessarily mean the gold is impure — wear over years is normal. However, for resale purposes, jewellers may treat it as unverified gold and test purity independently. Keep jewellery in conditions that minimise stamp wear (separate soft pouches, avoid contact with harsh chemicals). If the HUID was lost due to jeweller negligence (e.g., the stamp was improperly applied), you have grounds for a consumer complaint.

Can I hallmark inherited gold jewellery?

Yes, absolutely. Any gold piece — inherited, old, or previously unhallmarked — can be submitted to a BIS-recognised AHC for hallmarking. The piece will be tested for actual purity, stamped with the appropriate purity mark and a new HUID, and registered. Note: if the piece's actual purity turns out to be lower than claimed (for example, sold as 22K but actually 18K), the HUID will be issued for the true purity. Hallmarking reveals the truth — which is exactly the point.

My BIS Care app is showing a different jeweller name than where I bought it. Should I be worried?

Not necessarily. The BIS database records the name of the jeweller who submitted the piece to the AHC — which may be a manufacturer or wholesaler, not the retail store. Many retail jewellers buy hallmarked stock from manufacturers/wholesalers; the HUID would be registered under the manufacturer's name. The critical verification is that the purity shown in the app matches the purity stamped on the piece. If the purity matches and the AHC is legitimate, the provenance chain is intact even if the jeweller name is unfamiliar.

Is HUID mandatory for silver and platinum too?

BIS hallmarking for silver was made mandatory for articles covered under IS 2112. Platinum hallmarking standards exist under BIS. The HUID system applies to all BIS-hallmarked precious metal items. Silver jewellery and artefacts in mandatory categories now also carry HUID-based hallmarks verifiable via BIS Care. Platinum hallmarking with HUID is being implemented progressively.

Can I file a complaint if I suspect my gold's purity is wrong despite a hallmark?

Yes. You can file a complaint via the BIS Care app (there is a "Register Complaint" section), through the BIS consumer helpline at 1800-11-4068 (toll-free), or via the BIS official website at bis.gov.in. Provide the HUID number, your purchase details, and the nature of your concern. BIS can initiate an investigation, and if a jeweller is found to be submitting sub-standard gold for hallmarking (or using fraudulent stamps), strict action follows under the BIS Act 2016. Indian consumers have successfully used this complaint mechanism to recover value from fraudulent jewellers.

Does HUID apply to gold coins and bars?

Gold coins and bars sold by BIS-licensed jewellers must also be hallmarked under the mandatory scheme. Coins from banks (RBI, nationalised banks selling Sovereign Gold Bonds or physical coins) come with their own purity guarantees. For coins bought from jewellers, check for the BIS hallmark (including HUID for post-2022 coins) or buy only from banks/certified sellers. The Sovereign Gold Bond scheme offers an alternative — no physical gold to authenticate, backed by Government of India guarantee.

Summary: 5 Things Every Gold Buyer Must Do

1. Always buy hallmarked gold from jewellers displaying a valid BIS licence. The BIS hallmark with HUID is the only guarantee of purity backed by law.
2. Download BIS Care before you shop. Verifying the HUID takes 30 seconds and is non-negotiable for any significant purchase.
3. Verify the HUID before completing payment — not after. Ask to see the hallmark on the physical piece, enter the HUID in the app, and confirm purity and jeweller details match.
4. Keep the purchase bill with the HUID number noted. A good jeweller will include the HUID on the invoice. This is essential for insurance claims, resale, and consumer complaints.
5. Report any irregularities to BIS via the app or helpline. Reporting fraud protects not just you but every gold buyer in India.