Dhanteras Gold & Silver Buying Guide: Muhurat, Hallmark, and Costs

Bullion markets, high-street jewellery showrooms, and neighborhood goldsmiths across India are experiencing heavy customer footfall on Friday, November 6, 2026, as millions celebrate Dhanteras. Formally referred to as Dhantrayodashi, this sacred occasion marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festival and is traditionally associated with welcoming prosperity, fortune, and health into households through the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Kubera, and Lord Dhanvantari. Buying gold, silver, metallic utensils, and precious coins on this date is considered an auspicious tradition. However, with bullion rates hovering at elevated market levels, understanding the exact shubh muhurat (auspicious time window), verifying statutory hallmarking standards, and decoding the arithmetic of jeweller making charges is critical to avoid unnecessary financial losses during festive shopping.Auspicious Muhurat: When to Buy Gold and Silver on Dhanteras 2026According to established Vedic astrological computations from Drik Panchang, Dhantrayodashi falls on the thirteenth lunar day (Trayodashi Tithi) of Krishna Paksha in the traditional month of Kartik. For 2026, the Trayodashi Tithi formally commenced at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 6, and extends through to 10:47 AM on Saturday, November 7.The primary, highly auspicious window for purchasing gold and silver across the capital region of New Delhi opened at 10:30 AM on November 6 and runs overnight until 6:37 AM on the morning of Saturday, November 7. This extensive, continuous 20-hour window provides buyers sufficient time to complete their purchases during daylight retail hours, throughout the late evening puja muhurat, or in the early hours before sunrise on Saturday. Shoppers who miss the Friday evening rush can still utilize the early Saturday morning window to make their symbolic festive purchases under auspicious planetary alignments.Decoding the Hallmark: The 6-Digit HUID Code and Purity StandardsWhen purchasing gold ornaments or bullion bars, verifying purity is the single most vital step. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made hallmarking mandatory across 392 districts in India to protect consumers from adulteration and karat cheating. Under prevailing statutory regulations, genuine gold jewellery must carry three distinct markings: the official triangular BIS logo, the purity and fineness grade, and a unique 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code laser-etched onto every individual item.Gold fineness is categorized under standard karat grades:24 Karat (999/995): 99.9% pure gold, primarily used for bullion bars and minted coins.22 Karat (916): 91.6% purity, the most popular standard for durable, wearable Indian jewellery.18 Karat (750): 75.0% purity, commonly chosen for diamond-studded ornaments, rings, and modern lightweight jewellery.14 Karat (585): 58.5% purity, utilized for contemporary, high-durability everyday pieces.For silver purchases, the revised standards provide for recognized purity grades, ranging from 999 fine silver for pooja coins and ingots to 925 sterling silver for silverware, idols, and jewellery. Customers can independently authenticate the authenticity of any gold article by inputting the engraved 6-digit HUID code into the government's official "BIS Care" smartphone mobile app. The application instantly verifies the jeweller’s registration number, the accredited Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) details, the article type, and the exact date of certification.Accurate Weighing: Gross Weight Versus Net Weight on Your InvoiceA frequent area where festive buyers incur hidden expenses is during the physical weighing of jewellery. When choosing an ornament, insist that the sales executive weigh the piece on a certified electronic weighing balance right in front of your eyes.Every detailed retail invoice must delineate between Gross Weight and Net Weight:Gross Weight: Represents the collective weight of the piece, including metal, embedded colored gemstones, pearls, synthetic beads, lac filling, or glass stones.Net Weight: Represents solely the actual weight of the precious metal (gold or silver) after deducting the exact weight of non-metal additions.Gold pricing must strictly be computed based on the net weight of the gold alone, never on the gross weight. Paying the price of gold per gram for decorative stones or internal lac fillings can add thousands of unnecessary rupees to your bill. Always check that the invoice carries a clear breakdown of the stone weight and metal weight separately.Demystifying Making Charges: Percentage Versus Per-Gram CostsMaking charges compensate the artisans and manufacturing units for design complexity, casting, stone-setting, and polishing. Across Indian retail outlets, making charges typically range between 6 percent and 25 percent of the base metal value, depending on whether the ornament is machine-made, plain die-cut, or handcrafted antique filigree and temple jewellery.Some jewellers apply making charges as a percentage of the total gold price, while others charge a flat fee per gram of gold used. Because making charges fluctuate across retail brands and local bazaars, comparing rates between multiple showrooms in your city before finalizing a high-ticket transaction can lead to substantial savings. Furthermore, verify whether making charges are refundable or deductible during future exchange or buyback transactions, as most jewelers forfeit making charges completely during returns.Understanding the Final Bill Math: Formula and GST ApplicationBefore handing over payment via card, UPI, or cash, verify the mathematical calculation of the total invoice. The standardized billing formula applied across India is:Final Bill Amount = [Net Gold Weight (in grams) × Prevailing Day's Rate for that Purity] + Making Charges + 3% GSTUnder Indian taxation laws, Goods and Services Tax (GST) is levied at a flat 3 percent on the combined value of the precious metal and the making charges. If gemstones or diamonds are mounted onto the jewellery, a separate GST slab of 0.25 percent applies to the unmounted precious stones, alongside 3 percent on the metal work. Demanding a comprehensive, computerized tax invoice containing the jeweller’s GSTIN number and HUID code ensures that your purchase is fully documented, legally protected, and eligible for seamless future exchanges or resale at recognized bullion valuations nationwide.