Jewellery to soon get ID to find out authenticity

Chennai: Soon, the consumer could key in the HUID number of his/her hallmarked jewellery and verify the authenticity of the piece. The HUID number will make the entire stock of jewellers and the sold inventory traceable.

The Bureau of Indian Standards had introduced a Hallmarking Unique ID or HUID number for each hallmarked jewellery piece from mid-June. HUID is a six digit code given at the time of hallmarking. BIS also has created an app which helps to trace the jewellery with the HUID number. Currently, the BIS officials can key in the number and get the details regarding the centre of assaying, date of assaying, caratage and other details as well as a photograph of the jewellery. This helps the official to find out whether the hallmarking on the jewellery is fake or original.

“Instances of fake hallmarking cannot be dismissed. The unique ID will weed out all such fraudulent measures,” said an industry expert.

BIS plans to open this facility for the customers as well once the initial hiccups regarding mandatory hallmarking subsides. According to James Jose, president of Indian Association of Hallma-rking Centres, probably in a year’s time, this facility will be open for customers. Customers can not just verify the authenticity of the jewellery by downloading the app and keying in the ID, but use it when pledging the selling the jewellery. “This will work as a title deed for the jewellery,” he said.

According to an industry expert, the HUID number will also help authorities track each piece of jewellery. This will make every jewellery sale accountable and traceable.

However, the government has given some relaxations. Jewellers with an annual turnover of up to Rs 40 lakh are exempted from mandatory hallmarking. Similarly, jewellery for international exhibitions and government-approved business-to-business domestic exhibitions will also be exempted.