Gold Jewellery Markings in India: What Every Stamp Actually Means
What each stamp on your jewellery actually certifies — and where it falls short when you go to sell.
Alok Parmar
June 09, 2026
Article Index
916, 22KDM, BIS Hallmark — What Every Stamp on Indian Gold Jewellery Actually Means
Gold jewellery markings in India come in four types, and most people only recognise one of them. You're holding a piece with a stamp on it: maybe '916', maybe '22KDM', maybe a BIS logo. You assume that the stamp tells the whole story. But when you go to sell, you get a price lower than expected, and no one explains why. The answer is almost always in the marking — or more specifically, in what that marking does and doesn't actually guarantee.
Note: These gold markings are extremely small in size, often comparable to nearly half the size of the letters printed in a typical newspaper, which is why they can sometimes be difficult to notice with the naked eye.
The Four Types of Gold Markings in India
1
BIS Hallmark with HUID (July 2021 – Present)
This is the current gold standard — literally. Jewellery hallmarked under this system carries 3 elements: the BIS logo, purity grade, and a unique HUID (Hallmark Unique Identification) number.
The HUID is the key differentiator. Every piece has a unique traceable code, registered with BIS, that can be verified online. This makes it the most reliable marking system India has ever had.
Under the BIS hallmarking system, only specific purity standards are officially recognised and stamped: 24K (999/995), 23K (958), 22K (916), 20K (833), 18K (750), 14K (585), and 9K (375).
Note: Even BIS hallmarking operates within permitted tolerance limits. The mark certifies purity at time of manufacture — not after repairs, soldering, or modifications. A reputable buyer will still test at point of sale for pieces that show signs of repair or alteration.
2
BIS Hallmark Without HUID (2000 – June 2021)
Certified and reliable — just not individually traceable
BIS hallmarking began in India in 2000. For over two decades, certified pieces carried the BIS logo, purity mark, and jeweller mark — but no unique identification number. These pieces were still tested and certified. The purity stated on them is generally reliable.
The only limitation: without a HUID, individual traceability is limited. You can’t look up a specific piece’s certification history the way you can with post-2021 jewellery.For resale purposes, pre-HUID BIS hallmarked jewellery is still treated with confidence.
3
Jeweller Stamping and Custom Local Markings
Before BIS hallmarking became widespread, jewellers used their own stamping systems to indicate claimed purity. You’ll still find these on older pieces across India. The most common ones:
A. The “916” Stamp
The 916 stamp generally indicates 22K gold (91.6% purity). It’s one of the most common markings you’ll find on Indian jewellery. But here’s the critical point: a 916 stamp alone is not the same as BIS hallmarking.In older jewellery, many jewellers stamped 916 themselves, without any independent testing or certification. It represents the jeweller’s claim — not a verified, third-party-certified purity reading. Always verify with a proper purity test.
B. The 22KDM / 23KDM Stamp
KDM refers to a manufacturing process where cadmium solder was used to join different parts of an ornament. This was extremely common in India before BIS hallmarking became the norm.
Many sellers assume 22KDM means exactly 22K gold. It does not. The actual recoverable gold purity in KDM jewellery depends on how much solder was used, what alloys were added, and what repair work has been done over the years. In many cases, the effective purity tests lower than standard 22K.
Note: There is no standardized formula to convert a KDM stamp into an exact karat value. No fixed conversion exists. This is why professional buyers always test KDM jewellery using purity testing methods.
C. Plain 22K / 23K Stamps
These are straightforward karat-based markings: 22K = ~91.6% gold, 23K = ~95.8% gold. Like the 916 stamp, these represent the jeweller’s stated purity — not a certified, tested figure. They’re a useful starting point, but not a guarantee.
D. 22/19 Stamps.
A "22/19” stamp is an older style of gold jewellery marking commonly seen in traditional jewellery designs. It generally indicates that the jewellery was made using 22 Karat gold, but the overall purity after melting may be closer to 19 Karat.Many traditional ornaments involved heavy solder usage for joining intricate designs. Because solder often contained additional metals and lower gold purity, the final melt value of the ornament could differ from the purity claimed for the main gold body.
4
No Stamp at all
Older inherited family jewellery often carry no markings whatsoever. An unmarked piece provides no direct purity information. The gold may be excellent quality — or it may not be.For unmarked jewellery, professional testing isn’t optional — it’s the only way to determine what you actually have.
Why Markings Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Even for the most reliable markings, there are factors that affect the actual recoverable gold content at the time of resale — regardless of what’s stamped on the piece.
Repairs and soldering — most solder used in repairs is lower purity than the main body of the jewellery.
Wax or clay fillings — hollow pieces are sometimes filled with wax or non-gold material for structural strength, which adds to total weight.
Enamel and stone settings — contribute to gross weight but are deducted during valuation. Only the net gold weight is priced.
Manufacturing method — casting produces more uniform purity throughout. Handcrafted and filigree pieces involve more solder joints and added components, each potentially varying in alloy composition. Two pieces with the same hallmark can have meaningfully different recoverable gold depending on how they were made.
How Purity Is Actually Verified at Point of Sale
Professional gold buyers use one of four testing methods:
●Touchstone + Acid Testing — a traditional and reliable method.Testing happens on the gold surface; the acid reaction indicates purity grade. AsliValue uses this method at every home visit, in front of the customer.
● Electronic Gold Tester — measures electrical conductivity of the jewellery. Fast but less precise than acid testing.
● XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) — used by some organised buyers. Reads metal composition from a surface scan. Accurate, but the result depends on where on the piece the reader is placed.
● Fire Assay — the most accurate method (99.9%+). Used only in labs and refineries. You will not encounter this at point of sale.
Not sure what the stamp on your gold actually means?
A marking is a starting point, not a final answer. Our expert comes to your home, tests your gold in front of you, and shows you the full calculation at the live domestic gold rate — gross weight, deductions, purity, and final figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
My jewellery has a "916" stamp but no BIS logo. Is it genuine 22K gold?
The 916 stamp indicates the jeweller's claim of 22K purity — but it's not a third-party certification. Before BIS hallmarking became mandatory, jewellers stamped their own pieces with 916 without independent verification. The gold may well be 22K, but the stamp alone doesn't confirm it the way a BIS hallmark does. A purity test at the time of sale is the only way to verify what you actually have.
I have old jewellery stamped "22KDM." Will I get less for it when I sell?
Not automatically less, but the purity needs to be tested rather than assumed. KDM refers to the cadmium-based solder used in manufacture — not the gold content itself. The actual recoverable purity depends on how much solder was used, what repairs have been done, and how the piece was constructed. A buyer who tests properly will give you a figure based on what's actually there, not a blanket deduction for the KDM stamp.
My inherited jewellery has no stamp at all. Can it still be sold?
Yes. Older family gold — pieces bought decades ago, passed down through generations — often carries no marking at all. The absence of a stamp doesn't mean the gold is low quality. It means the purity has to be determined by testing rather than by reading the piece. A fair buyer treats an unmarked piece the same way as a marked one: test it, show you the result, and calculate from there.
The article mentions BIS hallmarking began in 2000. Does that mean gold bought before 2000 is unreliable?
Not unreliable — just unverified by a third party. Gold bought before BIS hallmarking was widespread may carry a jeweller's stamp or no stamp at all, but the underlying metal can be perfectly good quality. What it means practically is that testing becomes more important, not that the piece is worth less. The purity test at point of sale is what determines your actual payout, regardless of when the piece was made.
Can I verify my gold's BIS hallmark myself before going to a buyer?
Yes, if your piece was hallmarked after July 2021 and has a 6-digit HUID. Download the BIS Care app, enter the HUID, and you'll see the registered purity, the assaying centre, and since October 2025, a photograph of the specific piece. If the photo doesn't match what you're holding, that's a red flag worth investigating before the sale. Pre-2021 pieces with older 4-mark hallmarks can't be individually traced this way.