For centuries now, gold has retained its position as the evergreen investment instrument. From jewelry to gold bars, having some amount of the valuable yellow metal in the family brings a certain peace of mind and a sense of security.
However, the quality and the type of the gold are of utmost importance because they determine how much your gold is worth. This is where BIS 916 gold takes center stage.
This article takes a detailed look at BIS 916 gold and compares it with other types of gold.
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What is BIS in BIS 916 gold?
BIS stands for Bureau of Indian Standards, the national standard body of India, which was formed under the BIS Act of 1986. It is responsible for developing, maintaining, and promoting quality standards for goods and services. It has been operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution since 1986.
Ensuring that all products manufactured in India meet the required standards of quality, safety, and reliability is the primary objective of the Bureau of Indian Standards. Considering that gold falls under its purview, BIS has set certain standards that are required to be followed by manufacturers to ensure that the gold is of topmost quality. BIS also looks over the process of hallmarking gold (explained later in this article).
What is BIS 916 Gold?
To put it simply, BIS 916 is the hallmark signifying gold that is 22 carats pure. The number 916 signifies 91.6% of gold and 8.4% of other metals, which is the composition of 22-carat gold. BIS 916 gold is commonly found in Indian and Middle Eastern jewelry.
24-carat gold is known as pure gold. However, this kind of gold is quite soft and does not hold its shape well. Hence, manufacturing jewelry using pure gold is very difficult. Adding other metals makes the gold stronger and more durable. Usually, silver, zinc, and copper are added to gold during this process. The exact combination of these metals would depend on the desired properties and color of the final product. Gold bars and coins are usually composed of 24-carat gold.
The gold rates for 22-carat and 24-carat types of gold are different with the latter being more expensive.
BIS Logo
Purity standards are important especially when you plan to buy gold. The
Indian standard BIS logo indicates testing and certification by BIS. The BIS 916 gold logo is a triangle with “BIS” inscribed below it.
Any gold marked with this logo is of BIS 916 standard. There will also be a jeweler’s identification mark on any gold that you buy which signifies the manufacturer who has made the gold.
Hallmark gold
The Bureau of Indian Standards awards a hallmark to every gold product, which is a representation of the quality of gold. From jewelry to gold bars, everything has a BIS hallmark. When you go to buy gold, you must ensure that the gold has a hallmark, no matter what type of gold you are going for. Hallmarking is a reflection of the purity standards of gold.
Hallmarking is the process by which BIS ensures that customers are not cheated while buying or selling gold. The BIS evaluates gold and awards the hallmark as per the gold’s purity standards. This assessment is done by BIS centers spread across the country.
Each hallmarked piece of gold will have the following:
- BIS logo
- Retailer’s logo
- Year of certification
- Purity of gold (for example 916)
- Assaying the center’s logo.
The most common types of purity standards are 750 (18 carats), 875 (21 carats), 916 (22 carats), and 958 (23 carats).
Final word
The Bureau of Indian Standards or BIS is a body operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution which assesses the quality of all goods produced in India. As a part of its responsibilities, it assesses the quality of gold as well and provides hallmarks to gold products such as jewelry, bars, coins, and others.
BIS 916 is a hallmark provided to gold with 22-carat purity. This kind of gold is commonly found in India and the Middle East and comprises 91.6% gold and 8.4% other metals. Every BIS 916 gold item has a BIS logo imprinted on it. The logo signifies that the gold has been checked by one of the BIS centers across the country.
It is important to check the logo before purchasing any kind of gold. However, if you are looking to invest, then purchasing and holding physical gold can be cumbersome. You will need a secured storage facility to store the precious yellow metal. Moreover, reselling requires you to physically visit a jeweler who may or may not give you the desired value.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is BIS and 916 the same?
BIS refers to the Bureau of Indian Standards, a government body that certifies the quality of goods manufactured in India. 916 is the hallmark given to 22-carat gold by BIS.
Q2. Is 916 gold 22K or 24K?
916 gold is 22K or 22-carat gold. 916 signifies the kind of gold which has 91.6% gold and 8.4% other metals.
Q3. How to check if my jewelry is made of BIS 916 gold?
To check if your gold is BIS 916 certified, you can visit an Assaying and Hallmarking center and consult with an expert there.
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