Hallmarking scheme for gold jewellery

NGJA to maintain standards:

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

The Gem and Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka has introduced a hallmarking scheme for gold jewellery to maintain standards.

Gem and Jewellery Authority’s Precious Metal Testing Unit Manager Siri Chandra Edirisinghe told Daily News Business that the authority is in the process of legalizing the system now.

A goldsmith making a jewellery item in Sea Street. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

The standards for gold jewellery was announced in 2006 for the first time but it was not implemented in Sri Lanka properly due to lack of equipment and lab facilities.

These standards were used unofficially by the people and gold jewellery manufacturers.

The Authority is awaiting a budget allocation of Rs. 100 million this year to purchase the machines required for this purpose. These laboratories will be set up in Kandy and Galle.

Edirisinghe said there are lot of complaints from customers that they were cheated by various parties because there was no proper system to identify real gold.

But once this scheme is implemented people can buy jewellery with confidence.

This scheme operates on the basis of trust and thus it is desirable that aspect of quality control are in-built in the system responsible for managing quality.

As per this scheme the jewellery retailer/manufacturer desirous of obtaining a licence can apply to Gem and Jewellery Authority for use of Standard Mark (Hallmark) on their jewellery.

This is done for consumer protection and to safeguard the industry from fraudulent manufacturers he said.

The Gem and Jewellery Authority will maintain market surveillance on certified jewellers, at a defined period on random basis.

Market surveillance involves collection of Hallmarked Gold Jewellery from licencee’s retail outlet/manufacturing premises and having it tested for conformity in recognized centres.

He said the hallmark is a mark of conformity widely accepted by the consumer. It bestows additional confidence to the consumer on the purity of gold jewellery.