Dhanteras falls on November 6 this year, and buyers have caught a small break: gold has cooled after Dussehra — GoodReturns puts 24K at ₹1,46,230 per 10g on October 21. This Dhanteras gold buying guide runs through 7 checks, from the BIS hallmark to the 3% GST, so you don’t overpay on the festival’s biggest purchase.
Updated: October 21, 2026, 10:16 AM IST
Quick Read
- Gold eased after Dussehra: MCX futures fell 0.24% to ₹1,46,918 per 10g; GoodReturns averages show 24K at ₹1,46,230, 22K at ₹1,34,050, 18K at ₹1,09,710.
- The board rate excludes 3% GST and making charges — on a 10g 22K piece that can add nearly ₹20,000.
- Every piece should carry 3 marks: the BIS triangle logo, a purity code like 22K916, and a 6-character HUID you can verify free on the BIS CARE app.
Dhanteras is the one day of the year when buying gold feels less like shopping and more like a ritual. Jewellers know it too — which is why the smart buyer walks in prepared. With prices easing (spot gold internationally hovered near $4,161 an ounce, and MCX futures dipped ₹348 on Wednesday morning), the window before November 6 is genuinely good. Here are the 7 checks, in the order a smart buyer runs them.
One honest note on rates first: trackers disagree. GoodReturns averages put 24K at ₹1,46,230 per 10g, but Delhi retail quotes ranged from ₹1,46,220 (Sunday Guardian’s live tracker) to ₹1,48,527 (Asianet Newsable) on the same day. City rates vary with local costs, taxes, and jewellers’ practices — the figures below use GoodReturns as the base, and you should confirm with your own jeweller.
Check 1: the three marks on the metal
Pick up any piece and look for the hallmark — it’s usually on the inside of a ring or bangle, on a necklace clasp, or the back of a pendant. A genuine BIS hallmark has three parts:
1. The BIS triangle logo — a small triangle with “BIS” in it.
2. The purity code — like 22K916. The 916 means 916 parts of pure gold in every 1,000 parts of metal, i.e. 91.6% pure. For 18K it’s 750; for coins, 24K999.
3. The HUID — a 6-character code (letters and digits, like A1B2C3), laser-engraved. Since April 2023, every hallmarked piece must have one.
No HUID, no genuine hallmark. Blurry or hand-stamped marks are a red flag — real ones are laser-etched and crisp.
Check 2: verify the HUID on your phone, in the shop
This takes thirty seconds and it’s free. Download the BIS CARE app (Google Play or Apple App Store — check the publisher is the Bureau of Indian Standards, developer name “bisgovin”, and skip lookalikes). Tap “Verify HUID,” type the 6-character code from the jewellery, and the app pulls up the official record: the jeweller’s name, the certified purity, the assaying centre that tested it, and the date of hallmarking.
Match everything: the purity in the app should match the stamp on the piece, and the jeweller should be the shop you’re standing in. If the app shows nothing, or the details don’t match what the seller told you, walk away. You can also report suspected fakes through the app’s complaints section. A genuine jeweller will welcome the check — reluctance is your answer.
Check 3: 22K for wearing, 24K for keeping
Here’s the bit most first-time buyers get wrong. 24K gold is 99.9% pure — and too soft for jewellery you’ll wear daily. It bends, scratches, and loses shape. That’s why Indian jewellery is almost always 22K (916): the small mix of other metals makes it strong enough to last.
24K is for coins and bars — the investment pieces you lock away. If a seller pushes “24K jewellery,” ask pointed questions; what you’re likely being shown is 22K with a 24K price tag. For diamond or stone-studded pieces, 18K (750) is standard because the setting needs even more strength.
> Also read: Diwali gold shopping: how to stay safe from scams
Check 4: ask the making charge BEFORE you fall in love with a design
The board rate is only the metal. The making charge — the jeweller’s fee for crafting the piece — can swing your bill by thousands, and it varies wildly by design. Handcrafted filigree costs far more than a machine-made chain. Always ask: is the charge a percentage of the gold value, or per gram?
Here’s what the math looks like on a 10-gram 22K piece, using GoodReturns’ own calculator: gold value ₹1,33,900, making charges ₹16,068 (about 12%), plus 3% GST of ₹4,499 — total ₹1,54,467. The making charge plus tax added over ₹20,000 to the board rate. Get the making-charge number in writing before you commit, and compare across two shops for similar designs. It is the single most negotiable part of the bill.
Check 5: the board rate doesn’t include 3% GST
GST on gold is 3% — and it applies to the gold value plus the making charges, not just the metal. Online rate trackers say this explicitly: their published rates “do not include GST, TCS and other levies.” So when GoodReturns shows ₹1,34,050 per 10g for 22K, that’s the pre-tax, pre-making number. Your invoice must show the GST separately. No GST invoice, no legal protection — insist on a proper bill with the HUID printed on it.
Check 6: small budget? Digital gold exists — with caveats
If your Dhanteras budget is ₹5,000 rather than ₹1,50,000, digital gold lets you buy tiny fractions of gold online. But understand what you’re buying: it’s not physical gold in your locker. Check who actually holds the metal, what the buy-sell spread is (the gap between their buying and selling price eats your returns), and whether you can convert it to physical gold later and at what cost. It’s a route, not a recommendation — and for Dhanteras tradition, most families still want something they can hold.
> Also read: Jio IPO opens: dates, price band, and lot size explained
Check 7: four questions for the seller, before you pay
Ask these out loud, in the shop:
1. “Will the HUID be printed on my bill?” It should be. A bill without it weakens any future claim.
2. “What are your buyback and exchange terms — in writing?” Gold’s resale value depends on the shop’s policy as much as the metal. Verbal promises don’t count.
3. “Is the making charge a percentage or per gram?” Percentages balloon when gold prices are high (like now).
4. “What’s your old-gold exchange rate?” If you’re trading in family gold, the deduction for “impurities” is where money quietly disappears. Get the rate before you hand anything over.
The timing question
Dhanteras (November 6) and Diwali (November 8) usually firm up gold prices — festival demand is real, and jewellers price for it. Buying in the dip, two weeks out, is the sensible move if you were going to buy anyway. Don’t stretch your budget trying to time the market to the rupee; the making charge and GST matter more to your final bill than a ₹500 swing in the board rate. The festive window also brings big-screen treats: November’s Bollywood releases run from Ramayana to Gunmaaster G9. Diwali evening is also when families perform the Lakshmi Puja — our Lakshmi Puja muhurat guide has the 5:54 PM timings and city-wise schedule.
> Also read: Sensex crashes 876 points: what the private-bank selloff meant
FAQ
Is now a good time to buy gold before Dhanteras?
Prices have eased after Dussehra — 24K is at ₹1,46,230 per 10g per GoodReturns, down from recent highs. Festival demand usually pushes prices up closer to Dhanteras, so buying in the dip makes sense if you planned to buy anyway.
Does the online gold rate include GST?
No. Published rates exclude 3% GST, TCS, and making charges. On a 10g 22K piece, GST plus making can add roughly ₹20,000 over the board rate.
Can I exchange old gold jewellery on Dhanteras?
Yes, most jewellers accept it — but ask their exchange rate and impurity deductions upfront, in writing, before handing over your old pieces.
Sources: GoodReturns (Oct 21, 2026); Tezzbuzz/ET Now rate trackers (Oct 21, 2026); Sunday Guardian live gold tracker; Asianet Newsable; todaygoldrates.in HUID guide; goldmeter.in hallmark guide; IIFL HUID verification guide.
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