Hallmark Gold Meaning Explained: 916, 999, KDM, BIS & Every Stamp Decoded (2026 Guide)

Pick up any piece of gold jewellery and look at the inside of the band, the clasp, or the back of the locket. Somewhere on it — usually in tiny print you need a magnifier to read — you will find a small set of numbers and letters. That is the hallmark. It is the most reliable single piece of information about your gold. It tells you the metal's purity, who certified it, and (in modern systems) gives you a unique ID you can verify online. This guide explains every common hallmark — 999, 916, 875, 750, 625, 585, 417, 375, 333 — what KDM means, how the BIS system works in India, how other countries do it, and how to check any piece online in under a minute.

Quick summary

What does 'hallmark' actually mean?

A hallmark is an official mark stamped on precious-metal jewellery and bullion to certify its purity. The system goes back centuries — the term comes from the Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where pieces were assayed (tested) and stamped from the 14th century onwards. Today, every major jewellery-buying country has its own hallmarking authority. The marks differ in design, but the function is the same: an independent body has tested the gold and confirmed it is what the seller claims it is.

Is hallmark gold pure gold?

No — hallmark gold is not the same as 100% pure gold, except in the specific case of a 999 (24K) stamp. A hallmark only certifies what percentage of the alloy is gold; the rest is intentionally added metal (copper, silver, zinc) to make jewellery durable. So a 916 (22K) hallmarked piece is officially certified as 91.6% pure — that is the genuine purity, not a marketing figure. The hallmark guarantees the purity number you see — it does not promise pure gold unless that number is 999.

Gold hallmark identification chart — the master list

What is 24 carat gold hallmark? (999)

The 999 stamp marks 24-karat gold — 99.9% pure. Some refineries also stamp 9999 (four nines), which means 99.99% pure. This is the standard for investment-grade bullion: bars, biscuits and coins from recognised refiners. 999 gold is too soft for jewellery — it bends and dents under normal wear — so you will rarely see it in a daily-use ring or chain. If a jeweller offers you 999 jewellery, ask twice: it is real, but it is also fragile, and the making charges tend to be higher because the metal is harder to work with.

What is 22 carat gold hallmark? (916)

The 916 stamp marks 22-karat gold — 91.6% pure. The remaining 8.4% is intentional alloy (typically copper, silver and zinc) that gives the metal enough strength to wear daily without bending or losing stones. This is the dominant standard for Indian, Pakistani and Gulf wedding and family jewellery. When buyers in South Asia talk about 'hallmarked gold', they almost always mean 916. It is an excellent compromise between purity and durability, and resale value remains very strong because the global market understands exactly what 916 represents.

18 carat gold hallmark number — 750

The 750 stamp marks 18-karat gold — 75% pure. The remaining 25% alloy makes 18K the most popular standard in European, American and modern designer jewellery. It is harder than 22K, holds intricate stone settings beautifully, and resists scratches better. Resale value is lower than 22K because there is less actual gold in each gram, but for daily-wear, gem-set and Western-style pieces, 750 is the global benchmark.

What hallmark is 625?

The 625 stamp is 15-karat gold — 62.5% pure. This is now an unusual stamp; it was used historically in British and Commonwealth jewellery between the late 1800s and roughly the 1930s. If you find a 625 mark on an old ring or chain, the piece is most likely antique or vintage. Modern jewellery rarely uses 15K — most countries skipped this standard in favour of 14K (585) and 18K (750). For collectors, 625-marked pieces can have additional historical and resale value beyond the gold content alone.

What is 585 hallmark?

The 585 stamp is 14-karat gold — 58.5% pure. It is the workhorse standard of American jewellery and very common in modern European pieces too. 14K is hard, durable, holds stones tightly, and looks unmistakably like gold despite the higher alloy content. Resale value is meaningfully lower than 18K or 22K because of the lower gold content, but for everyday wear it is one of the best practical choices in modern jewellery.

What is 333 gold hallmark?

The 333 stamp marks 8-karat gold — 33.3% pure. This is the lowest legal gold standard in Germany and parts of Northern Europe. Below 333, a piece is usually not allowed to be sold legally as 'gold'. Because two-thirds of the metal is alloy, 333 jewellery looks slightly different from higher-purity gold (less yellow, more pale) and has much lower resale value. It is found mostly in budget European jewellery, costume pieces and older estate items. If you see 333, you are buying mostly the design rather than the gold content.

What is KDM gold? Meaning explained

KDM stands for cadmium-soldered gold. In traditional Indian jewellery making, the joints and fine work in 22K pieces had to be soldered with a metal that melts at a lower temperature than the surrounding gold. For decades, jewellers used a cadmium-based solder for this — and the resulting jewellery was sold as 'KDM gold', short for 'cadmium' (the K-D-M is roughly its Hindi pronunciation). KDM was popular because it allowed jewellers to keep the rest of the piece at the full 22K purity without compromising it during soldering.

Which is better — KDM or hallmark?

Hallmark is better — and in modern Indian jewellery it has effectively replaced KDM. Cadmium is a toxic metal, and prolonged occupational exposure during melting and soldering posed health risks to jewellers. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) phased out the use of cadmium solder for hallmarked jewellery, and modern hallmarked pieces use safer alternatives (typically zinc-based solders). When you see 'KDM' marketed today, it usually refers to the old workmanship style; the metal itself should still be hallmarked to be trustworthy. The clear modern recommendation is: insist on a current BIS hallmark with a HUID code, not a generic 'KDM' label.

How hallmarking works in different countries

BIS Hallmark — how it works in India

Modern Indian hallmarked jewellery has three key elements stamped on it: the BIS logo (a triangle), the purity number (916 / 750 / etc.), and a 6-character alphanumeric HUID — the Hallmark Unique Identification number. The HUID is the most important development of the last few years: every hallmarked piece now has an individual digital identity that can be verified through the official BIS Care app. If a piece in India is supposed to be hallmarked but does not have a HUID, treat it with caution — it may be using older marking that has since been superseded.

Gold hallmark check online — how to verify any piece

1. 1.India — Download the official BIS Care app, enter the 6-character HUID code stamped on the piece, and the app shows the jeweller, registration details and purity certified.
2. 2.UK — Use the official Assay Office websites (London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Edinburgh) to look up sponsor marks and date letters.
3. 3.UAE / Saudi Arabia — Reputable jewellers can produce an assay certificate for any hallmarked piece on request.
4. 4.USA — There is no central registry; verify with the jeweller, and use independent assay services for high-value pieces.
5. 5.Always — cross-check the stamp under a magnifier; smudged or asymmetric stamps are a red flag.

916 hallmark gold price today — how it works

Today's 916 hallmark gold price is simply 91.6% of the current 24K (999) reference rate, plus making charges, taxes and dealer margin. Use the formula below to compute today's 916 price for any unit (per gram, per tola), in any currency.

What is KDM gold price today?

Where 'KDM gold' is still spoken of, it is almost always a synonym for 22-karat (916) gold, just made with the older soldering technique. So today's KDM gold price tracks the 22K (916) rate exactly. Any premium or discount comes from the jeweller's making charge, not from the metal itself. The simplest mental model: KDM rate ≈ 916 rate. Always insist on a current BIS hallmark on the piece before paying any premium.

Is your jewellery unhallmarked? What to do

1. 1.Take it to a recognised assay office or BIS hallmarking centre to get it tested.
2. 2.An assay test will tell you the actual purity, regardless of any (missing) stamp.
3. 3.If the piece is older than the country's current hallmarking law, it may legitimately not have a modern stamp — testing is the only way to confirm purity.
4. 4.Never pay full hallmark prices for unhallmarked jewellery; always negotiate based on tested purity.
5. 5.If you suspect the seller is misrepresenting purity, escalate to your local consumer-protection authority or jewellery association.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. 1.Trusting the word 'hallmark' without seeing the actual stamp under magnification.
2. 2.Confusing 916 (22K) with 999 (24K) — they are different purities and different prices.
3. 3.Paying 22K rates for 18K (750) or 14K (585) jewellery — always cross-check the stamp.
4. 4.Accepting a 'KDM' label without an accompanying BIS hallmark + HUID in modern Indian jewellery.
5. 5.Skipping the BIS Care app verification on Indian hallmarked pieces — the HUID lookup takes 30 seconds and protects you completely.
6. 6.Assuming hallmark = 100% pure — only 999 is essentially pure; 916 is intentionally 91.6%.

Common myths — busted

Trust the stamp, not the salesperson. The hallmark is the only piece of information about your gold that a stranger has independently verified.

The bottom line

Hallmarks are the simplest, most reliable shorthand for understanding any gold purchase. Memorise the four numbers that cover most situations: 999 (24K, pure), 916 (22K), 750 (18K), 585 (14K). Add the country-specific exceptions (875 in the Gulf, 333 in Germany, 375 in the UK), and you can read almost any gold piece in the world. In modern Indian jewellery, look for the BIS triangle + the purity stamp + a 6-character HUID, and verify it on the BIS Care app. That single 30-second habit will protect you from nearly every form of jewellery fraud.

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