What Is BIS Hallmark on Silver? Everything You Need to Know
If you have bought silver articles in India recently, you have probably noticed a small mark stamped onto the metal. This is the BIS hallmark — and it is one of the most important quality guarantees available to silver buyers in India today.
What Is BIS?
BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards — the national body responsible for product quality certification in India. It operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and sets the standards for hundreds of products, including precious metals like gold and silver.
When Did BIS Hallmarking Become Mandatory for Silver?
BIS hallmarking for silver became mandatory in India in 2022. Before this, it was voluntary. Now, every silver article sold by a registered jeweller must carry a BIS hallmark — making India one of the most regulated silver markets in the world.
What Does a BIS Hallmark on Silver Look Like?
A complete BIS hallmark on a silver article contains:
- BIS Logo — a triangle with "BIS" inscribed
- Purity Grade — 925 (sterling silver, 92.5% pure), 958 (Britannia silver), or 999 (fine silver)
- HUID — a 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique ID, unique to each piece
The hallmark is typically stamped on a flat, discreet part of the article — the base of an idol, the inside of a dibbi lid, or the bottom of a glass.
How to Verify a BIS Hallmark
The Indian government has made verification extremely easy:
- Download the BIS Care app (available on Android and iOS)
- Tap "Verify Hallmark"
- Enter the 6-digit HUID from the article
- The app shows: metal type, purity grade, jeweller name, assaying centre, and date of hallmarking
This takes under 30 seconds and confirms the article is genuine beyond any doubt.
What Is 925 Silver Specifically?
925 on a BIS hallmark means the silver is 92.5% pure — the international sterling silver standard. The remaining 7.5% is typically copper, which adds strength and durability without significantly affecting value.
At Faincy Silver in Jaipur, all our articles carry the BIS 925 hallmark. We have been committed to pure silver quality since 1939 — long before hallmarking became mandatory.
Why BIS Hallmarking Matters for Buyers
Before mandatory hallmarking, buyers had to trust the jeweller's word about silver purity. Unscrupulous sellers could (and did) sell low-purity silver at high-purity prices.
With BIS hallmarking:
- Every article is tested at a BIS-licensed assaying centre
- Purity is verified independently, not self-declared
- The HUID creates an unbreakable digital record
- Buyers can verify instantly with a free app
Red Flags to Watch For
- No hallmark at all — illegal for registered jewellers since 2022
- Hallmark with only the purity number but no HUID — this is an old pre-HUID format; acceptable for old stock but not newly manufactured pieces
- Hallmark that does not match on the BIS Care app — could indicate tampering
BIS Hallmark vs Self-Certified Silver
Some sellers stamp "925" or "Sterling Silver" on their own articles without BIS certification. This is self-certification — unverified by any third party and not legally equivalent to a BIS hallmark. Always look for the full BIS mark with HUID, not just a purity number.
Faincy Silver is a registered BIS jeweller. Every article we sell — from silver idols and dibbis to bottles and photo frames — carries a genuine BIS 925 hallmark with a verifiable HUID.