Hallmarking of jewellery mandatory in 14 districts of Karnataka

Bengaluru: Fourteen districts with hallmarking centres have been identified for the scheme which mandates hallmarking for gold jewellery. It came into effect on June 16.

The districts are Bengaluru Urban, Tumakuru, Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Udupi, Davanagere, Uttara Kannada, Belagavi, Dharwad, Vijayapura, and Kalaburagi. Initially, the mandatory hallmarking began with 256 districts in the country.

A few sections are excluded from this scheme. They include jewellers with annual turnover up to Rs 40 lakh, watches, fountain pens, and special types of jewellery namely kundan, polki, and jadau; and export and import of jewellery as per trade policy of the government of India- jewellery for international exhibitions and government-approved B2B domestic exhibitions.

Hallmarking would be don’t in the first point of sale. Alteration in the hallmarked jewellery up to 2 grand of increase or decrease will be permitted with the responsibility of the purity of the same. Also, the demands to increase the grades of gold purity for hallmarking have been high from the jewellers. Gold of additional carats 20, 23 and 24  will also be permitted for hallmarking.

Old un hallmarked jewellery can be sold to jewellery. They can continue to buy the old gold without a hallmark.