Buying Gold This Dhanteras? 6 Checks First

Before buying gold jewellery this Dhanteras, you must verify BIS hallmark, purity grade, HUID code, net weight, and get a proper invoice — or risk paying for gold that isn't what the jeweller claims.

Here's what happened: India made HUID hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery sold by registered jewellers, giving every piece a unique 6-digit traceable identity code.. The BIS Care app (available free on Android and iOS) lets any buyer instantly verify a piece's registered purity, jeweller ID, and assay centre details using the HUID.. Common Dhanteras fraud patterns include selling lower-purity gold (18K) at 22K prices, inflating making charges, or mixing stone weight into net gold weight on the bill..

What you should do: Download the BIS Care app before you visit any jeweller and scan the HUID on every piece — if the code doesn't match or is missing, walk away.. Insist on a detailed invoice that separately lists net gold weight, purity, making charges, stone charges (if any), and GST — refuse any lump-sum bill.. Compare making charges across at least two jewellers before buying — charges can range from ₹150 to ₹600 per gram and are entirely negotiable, especially on plain gold items..

Pro tip: If you plan to sell or pledge this gold later at a bank or pawnbroker, an HUID-verified piece with a clean invoice fetches 3–5% better valuation than unmarked jewellery of identical weight.

For readers weighing their credit and loan options, our personal loan guide and CIBIL score resources put this update in context.