Jewellery Education
The Complete Indian Gold Buying Guide
Essential knowledge on BIS hallmarking, purity karatage, making charges, and transparent pricing.
1. Understanding Karatage & Purity (24K vs 22K vs 18K)
The purity of gold is measured in karats out of 24 parts:
- 24 Karat (99.9% pure): Pure elemental gold. Soft and malleable; best suited for gold coins, bars, and bullion investment.
- 22 Karat (91.6% pure / 916): The quintessential Indian jewellery standard. Blended with copper/silver to give strength and retain glorious rich luster.
- 18 Karat (75.0% pure / 750): Ideal for setting natural diamonds and gemstones due to its superior prong grip.
2. How to Read the BIS Hallmark 6-Digit HUID
Every genuine piece of hallmarked gold jewellery in India must contain 3 mandatory marks:
1. BIS LogoTriangular official mark of Bureau of Indian Standards
2. Purity Stamp22K916, 18K750, or 14K585
3. 6-Digit HUIDUnique alphanumeric tracking number verifiable on BIS Care App
3. The Vardhaman Transparent Pricing Guarantee
Unlike conventional jewelers who bundle confusing making charges, we explicitly itemize:
Final Amount = (Net Gold Weight × Live Spot Rate) + Making Charges + Wastage + Gems + 3% GST