IGI announced the launch of its specialized “Gold Assaying Service” making it India’s first one-stop certification laboratory for diamond and gold jewelry. This new IGI service, available at the standard BIS rate, will be launched first in Mumbai and then expanded throughout India. Benefits not only include the convenience of speed, but also a simple and inclusive pricing structure for both diamond certification and gold assaying.
determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in gold and is used in many countries as a guarantee of purity or fineness of gold jewelry. The IGI India assaying service consists of five components: BIS Mark, the fineness number (corresponding to given caratage), Assaying and Hallmarking Centre’s mark, jeweler’s mark, and year of marking denoted by a code letter decided by BIS (e.g., code letter ’A’ was approved by BIS for year 2000, ’B’ for 2001 and ’C’ for 2002). The BIS hallmark, a mark of conformity widely accepted by consumers throughout India, bestows additional buyer confidence on the purity of gold jewelry. Guarantee for the IGI mark is extended by the BIS/ NABL certified Assayer. Mr. Tehmasp Printer, Managing Director of IGI-India, stated, “We are the first international certification body to officially offer a one-stop solution for diamond certification and gold hallmarking. Introduced to help alleviate some of the tight deadlines our customers, in particular, have to work under, this service offers the most comprehensive range of diamond certification and gold hallmarking services under one roof.” IGI continues to be the only laboratory in the country to be awarded accreditation ISO/IEC 17025:2005 for “standard grading and certification processes,” further reinforcing the exacting standards set by IGI over the past 10 years in India, and over 35 years worldwide.
Hallmarking-Certification of Gold
withstand wear as an article for use or adornment. However, it is easy to perpetrate, because with both metals a considerable excess of alloy can be introduced without changing the color, and is difficult to detect without technical tests. The government of India was cognizant and understood the necessity of protecting the public in its purchases of gold jewelry, especially with regard to standards of fineness and the prevention of adulteration, be it deliberate or accidental. The principle objectives of the Hallmarking Scheme are to protect the public against the fraud of adulteration and to oblige manufacturers to maintain legal standards of fineness.
The BIS hallmarking scheme has been aligned with international criteria on hallmarking (Vienna Convention 1972). As per this scheme, license is granted to the jewelers by BIS under Product Certification Scheme. The BIS certified jewelers can get their jewelry hallmarked through IGI.
About IGI
The International Gemological Institute, the world’s largest independent laboratory for testing and evaluating gemstones and fine jewelry, was established in 1975 in Antwerp and is located in New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto, Hong Kong, Mumbai, the Seepz Zone, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dubai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Tel Aviv and Thrissur. IGI is an ISO accredited worldwide organization.
For additional information, please visit www.igiworldwide.com.
