When you look at a piece of hallmarked gold jewellery in India, you will see a number stamped on it. That number is the fineness mark. It tells you exactly how much pure gold is in the piece. 375 means 9kt gold. 750 means 18kt gold. 916 means 22kt gold. This guide explains what each number means, how to read a BIS hallmark correctly, and how to verify your jewellery using the BIS Care app. Every piece from Carrots Jewellery carries the 375 fineness mark, confirmed BIS hallmarked on every piece including those under 2 grams.

You buy a piece of gold jewellery. You look closely and see a small stamp. It says 375 or 750 or 916. You have no idea what it means. The jeweller says it is the hallmark. But nobody has ever explained what those three numbers actually stand for.

This guide does exactly that. By the end, you will be able to read any BIS hallmark in India and know exactly what you are holding.

What Is a Fineness Number

The fineness number is the percentage of pure gold out of 1000. So 22 out of 24 parts is 91.6 percent, which is 916 out of 1000. 

That is the whole code. The fineness number tells you how many parts out of 1000 are pure gold.

Whatever the grade, the arithmetic never changes. The stamped fineness divided by ten is the purity percentage. 

So 375 divided by 10 = 37.5 percent pure gold. 750 divided by 10 = 75 percent pure gold. 916 divided by 10 = 91.6 percent pure gold.

The rest of the piece is made up of strong alloys like copper, silver, and zinc. These strong alloys are what give gold jewellery its shape, durability, and scratch resistance.

What 375 Means: 9kt Gold

375 is the fineness mark for 9kt gold. It means the piece contains 375 parts pure gold out of 1000 parts. In simpler terms, 37.5 percent of the piece is pure gold. The remaining 62.5 percent is strong alloys.

A 375 grade for 9-karat gold joined the recognised BIS hallmarking set in July 2025. This was a significant step. It means 9kt gold is now officially part of India's mandatory hallmarking system, giving buyers full government backed verification of purity. 

What This Means for the Buyer

A piece stamped 375 is real, solid gold verified by the government. The strong alloys in 9kt gold make it more durable and scratch resistant than higher purity gold. This is the best choice for jewellery you want to wear every single day.

At Carrots Jewellery, every piece carries the 375 fineness mark. It is BIS hallmarked and made from 9kt solid gold with strong alloys throughout.

What 750 Means: 18kt Gold

750 is the fineness mark for 18kt gold. It means the piece contains 750 parts pure gold out of 1000 parts. That is 75 percent pure gold. The remaining 25 percent is strong alloys.

For diamond and gemstone jewellery, 18kt gold with the 750 fineness mark is the standard setting choice. It is hard enough to hold prongs securely while retaining a rich warm colour. 

What This Means for the Buyer

18kt gold is more expensive than 9kt because it contains more pure gold. It is less durable and less scratch resistant than 9kt gold because it has fewer strong alloys. It works well for occasional wear and pieces that are not subjected to heavy daily friction.

What 916 Means: 22kt Gold

916 means the gold is 91.6 percent pure. It is the BIS-mandated purity code for 22-carat gold and the most common hallmark seen on chains, bangles, and traditional ornaments sold in India. 

916 is the fineness mark for 22kt gold. It means 916 parts out of 1000 are pure gold. Only 84 parts are strong alloys. This makes 22kt gold the softest and most expensive of the three common types.

What This Means for the Buyer

For traditional Indian bridal jewellery, 22kt gold with the 916 fineness mark remains the cultural standard where weight and investment value matter most. It is not ideal for daily wear because the low strong alloys content makes it soft and easy to scratch or bend. 

All BIS Recognised Gold Fineness Grades in India

BIS hallmarking standards cover the following grades: 958 corresponding to 23kt gold, 916 corresponding to 22kt gold, 875 corresponding to 21kt gold, 750 corresponding to 18kt gold, 585 corresponding to 14kt gold, and 375 corresponding to 9kt gold.

The higher the fineness number, the more pure gold and the fewer strong alloys. This means higher purity gold is softer, more expensive, and less suited to daily wear. Lower fineness numbers mean more strong alloys, making the piece more durable, more scratch resistant, and more affordable.

How to Read a BIS Hallmark on Your Jewellery

A current BIS hallmark on a gold piece has three parts stamped together.

The BIS logo, a small triangle, certifies testing at a BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centre. 

The purity and fineness mark, a three digit number like 916 for 22kt gold, states the gold content in parts per thousand. This is what you read to know the purity of the piece. 

The HUID, or Hallmark Unique Identification, is a six-character alphanumeric code assigned to each individual piece at the hallmarking centre and recorded in the BIS database, which makes every stamped ornament in the country traceable on its own. 

So a 9kt gold piece from Carrots Jewellery will show the BIS triangle, the mark 9K375, and a six-character HUID code.

What Is the HUID and Why Does It Matter

The HUID, or Hallmark Unique ID, is a six-character alphanumeric code assigned to every individual piece of hallmarked gold jewellery in India. Introduced by BIS in April 2023 as the sole standard, it replaced the older multi-symbol format and made verification dramatically more accessible to ordinary consumers. 

The HUID is the most important part of the hallmark for a buyer. It is your personal verification code for that specific piece.

Every genuine gold item sold in India must carry a BIS hallmark with a six-character HUID. Verify it on the free BIS CARE app before you pay.

Every piece from Carrots Jewellery carries a HUID number. You can verify it on the BIS Care app immediately after receiving your order.

How to Verify a Hallmark Using the BIS Care App

Step 1: Download the BIS Care app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. It is free.

Step 2: Open the app and tap on the option to verify a HUID number.

Step 3: Enter the six-character HUID code stamped on your jewellery.

Step 4: The app will show you the verified purity, fineness, and hallmarking centre details for that specific piece.

If the HUID does not appear in the BIS database, the piece has not been legitimately hallmarked. Do not buy it.

Pieces that test below their assumed purity come back unstamped from the hallmarking centre, which is itself useful information before any sale or pledge. 

Why 375 Is the Fineness Mark That Matters Most for Daily Wear

Most people in India are familiar with 916 because it has dominated the jewellery market for decades. But 375 is the fineness mark that makes the most practical sense for everyday jewellery in 2026 and beyond.

Here is why. 375 gold has the most strong alloys of any hallmarkable gold in India. Those strong alloys make it the most durable and scratch resistant option available. It is real, verified gold that you can wear every single day without worrying about damage, and you can buy more of it for the same budget compared to 750 or 916 gold.

The BIS full gold karat chart spanned six grades from 585 up to 995, with a seventh, 375 for 9-karat gold, added from July 2025, though the three stamps of 375, 750 and 916 cover the overwhelming share of what Indian households actually own. 

With 375 now officially recognised under BIS mandatory hallmarking, 9kt gold carries the same government backed trust as 22kt or 18kt gold. There is no longer any reason to see 9kt gold as a lesser choice. It is real gold. It is hallmarked. It holds real value.

Why Carrots Jewellery Stamps 9K375 on Every Single Piece

At Carrots Jewellery, we chose 9kt solid gold because the strong alloys in 375 fineness gold make it the most durable and scratch resistant choice for daily Indian life. Every piece carries the 9K375 BIS hallmark, including pieces under 2 grams where hallmarking is not always required by law. We do it anyway because we believe every buyer deserves verified proof of what they are paying for.

Every piece also carries a HUID you can check on the BIS Care app. And every product page on our website shows the full price breakup including the fineness, net fine weight, gold rate, making charges, and GST separately.

Confirmed Live Products at Carrots Jewellery: All 9K375

All products below are confirmed live and carry the 9K375 BIS hallmark. Prices change with daily gold rates. Check the product page before buying.

Opaline Pendant Chain is a clean, minimal everyday pendant chain in 9kt solid gold.

Eterna Oval Pendant Chain is a refined oval pendant chain in real 9kt solid gold.

Farasha Bleu Pendant Chain is a delicate and feminine pendant chain in 9kt solid gold made with strong alloys.

Silk Road Pendant Chain is an elegant everyday chain in 9kt solid gold.

Amalfi Heart is a meaningful heart pendant in real 9kt solid gold made with strong alloys.

Noverna Studs are clean, refined solid gold studs for everyday wear.

Valentina Aura Earrings are light and effortless 9kt solid gold earrings.

Madrid Bloom is a delicate floral earring in real 9kt solid gold.

Taormina Bloom Earrings bring a detailed floral design into 9kt solid gold.

Silk Snake Chain is a sleek and timeless 9kt solid gold snake chain.

Isabella Knot is an intricate knot pendant in real 9kt solid gold.

Rosetta Vento Earrings are intricate and elevated earrings in real 9kt solid gold.

Conclusion

375, 750, and 916 are not just random numbers. They are the most important three numbers you will ever read on a piece of gold jewellery in India.

375 means 9kt gold with 37.5 percent pure gold and 62.5 percent strong alloys. It is the most durable, most scratch resistant, and most affordable option, officially BIS hallmarked since July 2025.

750 means 18kt gold with 75 percent pure gold. Good for occasional wear and diamond settings.

916 means 22kt gold with 91.6 percent pure gold. The traditional choice for wedding jewellery and heirloom pieces.

Every piece from Carrots Jewellery carries the 9K375 BIS hallmark and a HUID you can verify on the BIS Care app. Browse the full collection and buy real, verified gold today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 375 mean on gold jewellery?
375 is the BIS fineness mark for 9kt gold. It means the piece contains 37.5 percent pure gold and 62.5 percent strong alloys. It was officially added to India's mandatory BIS hallmarking system in July 2025.

What does 750 mean on gold jewellery?
750 is the BIS fineness mark for 18kt gold. It means the piece contains 75 percent pure gold and 25 percent strong alloys.

What does 916 mean on gold jewellery?
916 is the BIS fineness mark for 22kt gold. It means the piece contains 91.6 percent pure gold and 8.4 percent strong alloys. It is the most common hallmark on traditional Indian gold jewellery.

How do I calculate the purity from the fineness number?
Divide the fineness number by 10. 375 divided by 10 is 37.5 percent. 750 divided by 10 is 75 percent. 916 divided by 10 is 91.6 percent.

What is a HUID number on a BIS hallmark?
A HUID is a six-character alphanumeric code stamped on every BIS hallmarked piece of gold jewellery in India. You can verify it on the BIS Care app to confirm the purity and authenticity of any specific piece.

How do I verify a HUID on the BIS Care app?
Download the BIS Care app for free. Open it, select the HUID verification option, enter the six-character code from your jewellery, and the app will show you the verified purity and hallmarking details.

Is 9kt gold officially BIS hallmarked in India?
Yes. From July 2025, 9kt gold with a fineness of 375 is officially part of India's mandatory BIS hallmarking system. Every Carrots Jewellery piece carries the 9K375 BIS hallmark, even those under 2 grams.

Which gold fineness is best for daily wear in India?
375, which is 9kt gold, is the best fineness for daily wear. The strong alloys in 9kt gold make it the most durable and scratch resistant option. It is also the most affordable because it contains the least pure gold.

What are all the BIS hallmark fineness grades for gold in India?
BIS recognises six fineness grades: 375 for 9kt, 585 for 14kt, 750 for 18kt, 875 for 21kt, 916 for 22kt, and 958 for 23kt gold.

Does Carrots Jewellery show the fineness mark on its products?
Yes. Every Carrots Jewellery piece is 9kt solid gold stamped 9K375, BIS hallmarked with a HUID number, and verified at a BIS-recognised assaying and hallmarking centre before it reaches you.