BIS raises gold hallmarking fee 67%, putting jewellers’ costs in focus
The gold hallmarking fee has increased from ₹45 to ₹75 per article, effective September 14, 2026. Titan, Kalyan Jewellers, PC Jeweller and Senco Gold could face higher per-item compliance costs; silver hallmarking rates remain unchanged.
What happened
BIS raised gold hallmarking fees by 67%, increasing jewellers' cost per article from Rs 45 to Rs 75. Titan, Kalyan Jewellers, PC Jeweller and Senco Gold may
Key facts
- Gold hallmarking fee increased 67% from Rs 45 to Rs 75 per gold article
- New rates effective September 14, 2026
- Minimum gold consignment charge set at Rs 200
- Silver hallmarking fee unchanged at Rs 35 per article
- Minimum silver consignment fee Rs 150
- AHC payment to BIS for silver: Rs 3.50 per article, minimum Rs 15 per consignment
Why this matters
The fee increase slightly advantages scaled, organised jewellers that can absorb or spread compliance costs, while adding a new diligence factor for smaller-chain acquisitions and partnerships.
What to watch
- Whether leading chains explicitly raise making charges or absorb the increase after September 14, 2026.
- Management commentary from Titan, Kalyan Jewellers, Senco Gold and PC Jeweller on basis-point gross-margin impact and pass-through rates.
- Changes in lightweight-gold demand, average selling price, average item weight and transaction volumes.
- BIS hallmarking-center capacity, turnaround times and any increase in ancillary testing or logistics charges.
- Gold-price direction: higher bullion prices amplify consumer sensitivity to incremental charges, particularly in entry-level products.
- Evidence of compliance avoidance or widening price gaps between organized and unorganized jewellers.
- Reprice making charges and introduce explicit hallmarking/compliance charges where customer acceptance permits.
- Review lightweight-gold and high-SKU categories for margin exposure, especially products where ₹30 is material relative to selling price.
- Consolidate designs and optimize batch sizes to reduce per-unit operational inefficiency around hallmarking.
- Increase marketing around certified purity, buyback assurance and traceability to support pass-through.
- Accelerate mix toward studded jewellery, higher-ticket bridal products and other categories where the fixed fee is immaterial.
- Engage BIS and industry bodies for clarification on implementation, exemptions, turnaround times and any operational changes.