Bought Gold Jewellery Recently? Here’s How You Can Check Its Purity On BIS CARE App

In India, buying gold jewellery is not just a cultural practice, but also a big financial move. To protect customers from spending money on fake or undervalued gold jewellery, and also check the purity of the gold purchased, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made it mandatory for jewellers and goldsmiths to hallmark all gold jewellery and artefacts.

At the heart of the scheme is the Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) number, a 6-digit alphanumeric code punched on each piece of hallmarked gold item.

What is the HUID System

The HUID system aims to improve the transparency and genuineness of the gold in circulation in the market. It gives a specific code to every hallmarked piece of gold. This code, inscribed next to the BIS logo and fineness mark, certifying purity, helps the buyer in gauging the purity and authenticity of the gold he/she is buying. The “BIS CARE app”, which is available for both Android and iOS, is the official app buyers can use for verifying the purity of the gold they are buying.

BIS CARE App for Testing Purity of Gold

The BIS CARE app allows consumers to easily validate their gold purchases. Here is how you may use the app:

Download and sign up: Download and register your number on the BIS CARE app on the Google play store or the Apple iOS App store.

Locate the HUID: Look for the six-digit HUID stamped on the gold (jewellery) with the mark (often near the BIS logo and purity grade).

Verify the HUID: Open the app, Select > Verify HUID, enter the HUID code.

The app will present the data as follows:

Jeweller’s Registration Number: Stands for BIS certified jeweller.

Assaying and hallmarking centre (AHC) details: It will display the details of the AHC that has certified the jewellery.

Article Type and purity: Denotes the type of jewellery and the purity of gold.

Date of Hallmark: Denotes the date when the piece was certified.

Additional Features of the BIS CARE App

Aside from denoting the purity of the gold piece, the BIS CARE app has a few more features:

Complaint Registration: Customers can register complaints about the quality of the goods, such as inferior quality, misuse of the BIS mark/number, etc.

Product Authentication: The app can help an individual check the genuineness of the ISI marking, Hallmark and CRS Registration marks on a large number of products.

Access to Information: Details regarding Indian Standards, the licences, and BIS-recognised labs are available to users.

Instant Updates: Users can get notifications on BIS events and activities through the app.

Why is it Important to Buy Hallmarked Jewellery

When you buy hallmarked Jewellery, you are assured of its purity and guarantee that you are getting a genuine product in terms of what you have paid for. It guarantees genuineness on three aspects.

BIS Logo: Indicates that the product is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards.

Grade of Purity: It specifies the purity of gold in karats (e.g. 22K, 18K).

HUID Number: The registration number of each item is denoted with an HUID mark.

You can protect yourself from fraud and be confident of your purchase by ensuring that the jewellery you are buying is stamped with these minuscule inscriptions.

Consumer Protection and Right to Compensation

If you bought an ornament that is not in the karats that it is supposed to be, you will be eligible for compensation. According to the BIS Act, 2018, the compensation is double the deficiency in terms of purity on the weight of the article plus charges of testing.

The BIS CARE app is a crucial source of information for consumers to empower themselves with knowledge and know the genuineness of the gold they are paying for. Buyers can make informed decisions, protect their investment, and preserve the integrity of their investment.