Typical Purity of Traditional Temple Jewellery
Traditional South Indian temple jewellery — kemp-stone sets, long necklaces, hip belts, and waist chains — was often crafted in the 19th and early 20th centuries to high gold standards. Much of this jewellery was made from 22-karat (916) or even higher-purity gold, since the artisans of the era were working to community standards that prioritised metal quality over cost reduction.
Some antique pieces, particularly those predating the widespread use of alloys for colour and hardness, test as high as 950–960 fineness on XRF. This is excellent news for sellers — it means the gold content may exceed what a casual buyer assumes from the piece's age or worn appearance.
Why Older Pieces Lack Hallmarks
BIS hallmarking became mandatory only in 2021, and voluntary BIS certification was available only from 2000. Any gold jewellery made before 2000 — which covers virtually all temple jewellery and most antique pieces — was never submitted to a hallmarking centre, so it carries no BIS stamp. This is not a sign of inferior quality; it is simply a function of when the piece was made.
Pre-BIS jewellery may carry the jeweller's private stamp (a house mark or karat designation in local script), but these carry no independent verification. The only reliable way to establish the purity of an unhalmarked piece is through scientific testing — and XRF is the method of choice.
XRF as the equaliser: An XRF test treats a 1960s temple necklace and a 2024 BIS-hallmarked piece identically — it measures what is actually there. Sellers of older jewellery should insist on XRF and should not accept a lower purity assumption simply because the piece lacks a hallmark.
How Buyers Handle Unhallmarked Pieces
Reputable buyers will XRF-test every unhallmarked piece and base their offer on the measured purity. Less scrupulous buyers may apply an assumed discount — pricing at 875 purity by default for all unhalmarked pieces, regardless of what the actual gold content is. This practice is unfair and should be challenged.
If a buyer quotes a purity figure without showing you a test result, ask them to XRF-test in front of you. If they decline or claim their process does not include XRF, seek a different buyer. The cost of incorrect purity assessment on a 100-gram temple jewellery lot at ₹7,200 per gram can exceed ₹25,000 — a significant amount that justifies taking the time to find a transparent buyer.
Practical Advice for Sellers with Antique or Temple Gold
Before any selling appointment, photograph your pieces and note any maker's marks, karat stamps, or distinctive features. This creates a record in case of disputes. If possible, visit a BIS-recognised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre to have the pieces tested before selling — the fee is modest and gives you certified documentation that strengthens your negotiating position.
If the AHC test confirms 916 or higher purity, you can approach gold buyers with that certification and expect offers close to the full purity-adjusted rate. Without certification, expect buyers to XRF-test the pieces themselves — which is fine, as long as they do it in front of you and show you the result.
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