Buying gold jewellery could involve a slightly higher cost after a revision in hallmarking charges ahead of India's festive and wedding shopping season. According to the supplied report, the hallmarking fee for gold jewellery has been increased from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, representing a rise of 66.67%.

The changes have been introduced under the BIS (Hallmarking) Regulations, 2026. The source states that the revised rules came into effect following a notification issued on September 14, 2026.

While ₹30 may appear to be a relatively small increase for a single piece of jewellery, its proportionate impact could be greater on lightweight and lower-priced ornaments. Jewellers handling large quantities of jewellery may also have to factor the revised charges into their overall operating costs.

Here is what has changed and what the new hallmarking charges could mean for jewellery buyers.

Gold Hallmarking Fee Increased to ₹75

Under the revised rules cited in the source, jewellers submitting gold jewellery to recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) will have to pay ₹75 per article for hallmarking.

Previously, the charge was ₹45 per article.

This means:

Old hallmarking fee: ₹45 per article

New hallmarking fee: ₹75 per article

Increase: ₹30 per article

Percentage increase: 66.67%

The revised rules also prescribe a minimum charge for each consignment.

For gold jewellery, the minimum hallmarking charge is ₹200 per consignment. This means that even if the number of ornaments submitted is small, the applicable minimum amount would still be ₹200.

Silver Hallmarking Fee Fixed at ₹35

The new framework also specifies charges for silver jewellery.

According to the supplied information, the hallmarking fee for silver jewellery is ₹35 per article.

A minimum fee of ₹150 per consignment has been specified for silver.

Therefore, the revised structure cited in the report is:

Applicable taxes are additional to these charges.

AHC Fees for BIS Also Specified

The revised regulations also specify fees collected by Assaying and Hallmarking Centres for BIS.

For gold jewellery, the fee is stated at ₹7.50 per article, with a minimum charge of ₹20 per consignment.

For silver jewellery, the corresponding fee is ₹3.50 per article, subject to a minimum charge of ₹15 per consignment.

Taxes applicable to these charges are to be levied separately.

Why Hallmarking Is Important When Buying Gold

Hallmarking is used to certify the purity of jewellery made from precious metals. For a consumer purchasing gold, it provides standardized information about the purity of the ornament.

For example, gold jewellery may be sold in different purities, such as 22-carat or other permitted fineness levels. Hallmarking provides assurance that the jewellery has been tested according to the applicable standards.

This makes hallmarking an important consideration when purchasing precious-metal jewellery, particularly when buyers are spending substantial amounts during festivals and weddings.

Lightweight Jewellery Could Feel a Bigger Impact

The percentage impact of a fixed ₹75 hallmarking fee will not be identical across every jewellery purchase.

The source cites All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation national general secretary Nitin Kedia as saying that the effect could be proportionately greater on lightweight ornaments.

The reason is straightforward: the hallmarking charge is fixed per article rather than being calculated according to the weight of the jewellery.

For instance, a very lightweight ornament and a significantly heavier ornament could both attract the same ₹75 hallmarking fee per article.

As a result, the hallmarking fee would represent a larger percentage of the underlying value of a low-weight ornament.

Could Jewellery Become More Expensive for Customers?

The immediate hallmarking charge is part of the cost incurred in the jewellery supply chain. Whether and to what extent that additional cost appears in a customer's final bill can depend on how individual jewellers structure their pricing.

The supplied report notes that jewellers may pass some of the increased cost on to consumers.

However, hallmarking is only one component of the final jewellery bill.

A customer's total purchase price can also include the value of gold, making charges, applicable taxes and other relevant charges.

Buyers should therefore examine the complete price breakdown instead of comparing jewellery only on the basis of the prevailing gold rate.

Small Jewellers May Face Greater Cost Pressure

The revised hallmarking charge could also have implications for jewellery businesses.

According to the industry view cited in the source, businesses selling lightweight or low-margin jewellery could feel a relatively larger impact from the increased charge.

Smaller jewellers may find the additional cost more significant compared with larger organised businesses that operate at greater scale.

The actual effect will vary depending on the number and type of ornaments handled, business margins, inventory levels and how individual jewellers choose to absorb or pass on the revised cost.

Why the Timing Matters

The change comes just as jewellery businesses are preparing for a period that traditionally sees increased buying activity.

The festive calendar includes Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali, followed by the wedding season. Jewellery stores generally prepare inventory in advance to meet demand during these periods.

With the hallmarking charge now revised, jewellers may have to include the higher fee while calculating the cost of preparing fresh inventory.

What Gold Buyers Should Check Before Purchasing Jewellery

Consumers planning to buy jewellery should pay attention not only to the day's gold price but also to all additional charges included in the final bill.

The purity and hallmark details should be checked carefully, while buyers should also understand the making charges, applicable taxes and other costs being added by the jeweller.

Under the revised fee structure cited in the supplied report, gold hallmarking now costs ₹75 per article compared with ₹45 earlier, an increase of 66.67%. Silver jewellery carries a hallmarking charge of ₹35 per article.

The direct increase per gold article is ₹30, but the final effect on a consumer's jewellery bill will depend on the product, its value, the jeweller's pricing structure and other applicable charges.