916 Hallmark Explained: What 22K Gold Means

That is why you will see 916 stamped on most gold jewellery in India. It is the standard purity for wedding and everyday jewellery, because pure 24K gold is too soft to hold its shape. When a piece is marked 916, it is claiming to be 22 carat gold, and that claim is what hallmarking checks.

What is on a hallmarked piece?

A hallmarked piece in India carries three marks: the BIS logo, the purity mark such as 916, and the jeweller's identification mark. Together they say who made or sold the piece, what purity it claims, and that it was tested by a recognised centre. Newer hallmarked pieces also carry a six-digit alphanumeric code, which can be checked to confirm the piece.

Not every piece in a shop window is hallmarked, and older pieces may carry older marks. If you are buying new jewellery, ask for hallmarked pieces and check the marks before you pay. If a piece has no mark at all, treat its purity as unproven, whatever the seller says.

How hallmarking protects you

Hallmarking exists because you cannot tell purity by looking at gold. Two rings can look identical and contain very different amounts of gold. Testing solves that: a sample is checked in a laboratory, and only pieces that pass get the mark. That is why hallmarked jewellery is easier to sell and exchange later — the next buyer does not have to take your word for the purity.

Hallmarking does not guarantee the price, the weight or the design. It guarantees purity only. You still need to check the weight, the making charge and the GST on the bill, and you still need to compare the metal rate with the benchmark for the day.

What to check when you buy

First, look for the three marks and read the purity number. Second, make sure the bill states the same purity, the weight in grams, and the rate per gram. If the bill says something different from the mark, ask why before you pay. Third, keep the bill with the piece. When you exchange it years later, the bill and the hallmark together make the exchange smooth and fair.

If you already own jewellery bought before hallmarking was common, you can still get it tested and hallmarked. It costs a small fee, but it removes doubt about purity and makes the piece easier to sell. For inherited pieces, that certainty is often worth more than the fee.

Hallmarking and resale

When you sell or exchange hallmarked jewellery, the buyer can trust the purity without re-testing every piece, which usually means a fairer price and a faster deal. Unhallmarked pieces often have to be tested first, and the buyer may discount the price for that uncertainty. That resale advantage is one of the most practical reasons to buy hallmarked gold in the first place.

Hallmarking rules have changed over time, and older pieces may carry different marks from new ones. That does not make an old piece fake, but it does mean you should get it checked if you are unsure. A recognised testing centre can confirm the purity and, where possible, add a current hallmark, giving you the same certainty as a new purchase.

Related Pages

Today's gold rate in India · Today's 22K rate · Gold price calculator · Gold rate in Chennai · Gold rate in Coimbatore · All blog posts

Sources: Bureau of Indian Standards — hallmarking

Benchmark rates only, before GST and making charges. Not investment advice.