How the UK Hallmarking Act Impacts Selling Indian Gold (2025 Update)

1. Why Hallmarking Still Matters in 2025

The UK Hallmarking Act if 1973 makes it illegal for any UK based business to sell or describe any items as gold jewellery without a hallmark if the weight is greater than 1 gram. Any items described as gold jewellery and weighing equal or greater than 1gram must carry, a full recognised hallmark. In January 2025 the British Hallmarking Council updated its Dealer's Notice, to now include the new date-letter series. This update means every jewellery (online or physical premises) must display the updated guide for their customers. Any non-compliance of this can trigger a Trading Standards investigation and fines up to £5,000 per item.

2. What Counts as a UK Gold Hallmark?

A legal UK gold hallmark should show three compulsory stamps, the sponsor, gold fineness, and assay office mark. There are four approved assay offices in the UK, London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh.

3. Why Indian & Asian Pieces Fall Outside the Act

Indian jewellery will usually carry a BIS Mark, a carat stamp or no hallmark at all. The BIS hallmark has been voluntary in India until very recently. For gold not sold with BIS marking, you see Indian jewellery with just a carat stamp such as '22K'. From our experience using XRF analysis on Indian gold, the actual gold content can often be 1 or 2 carats below the stamped purity.

The introduction of the BIS hallmarking system in India follows similar guidelines to the UK system. For Indian gold to be sold in the UK legally it must follow the UK hallmarking laws for gold. This is when difficulty can be faced when trying to sell Indian gold in the UK.

4. Real-World Impact on Your Resale Price

When making the decision to sell Indian or Asian gold in the UK, you may hit road blocks. Many gold buying businesses do not accept foreign unhallmarked gold, or any gold not carrying British hallmarks due to the risk of buying gold where its actual purity is below what is stated on the hallmark.

5. 3 Ways to Maximise Your Indian Gold Payout in 2025

1. Pre-hallmark or certify high-value pieces Sending your Indian 22ct bangles to a UK assay office can for hallmarking can increase your pool of buyers. However, there are gold buyers out that will pay the same rates for gold with or without hallmarks, so this may not be a necessary step.
2. Choose XRF equipped buyers At Cheshire Gold Xchange, we have XRF analysis that can tell us the gold purity of a jewellery piece without destruction of the item. Buyers who have XRF equipment, will usually buy gold without hallmarks.
3. Test at various locations As you may be reliant on XRF testing buy the buyer, its receommended to approach numerous buyers to obtain a comparable.

Sell Your Indian Gold Today

At Cheshire Gold Xchange, we accept all foreign gold with or without hallmarks. We will pay market leading prices for unhallmarked gold based upon XRF analysis.