The gold you grew up with, just a little farther away
If you grew up Indian, you probably remember the jewelry shop trips. The cold air conditioning. The glass counters. Your mom holding a necklace up to the light, turning it slowly, asking the uncle behind the counter a hundred questions.
Now you live in Seattle, or Dallas, or New Jersey. The closest Indian jeweler might be an hour away. Or the designs you love are only in India.
So you start looking online. And then the worry kicks in. Is it real gold? Will it actually arrive? What if it's not what I saw in the picture?
Those are fair questions. Gold is a big purchase, and often an emotional one. Here's how to buy Indian gold jewelry from the USA and feel good about it.
1. Check the gold purity
This is the big one. Every piece of gold jewelry should clearly state its karat, like 22K or 18K. That number tells you how much real gold is in it. 22K gold is 91.6% pure, which is why you'll sometimes see it marked as "916" (BIS).
In India, purity is certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards, or BIS. A BIS-hallmarked piece carries three marks: the BIS logo, the purity, and a six-character code called the HUID (BIS). You can check an HUID yourself using the "Verify HUID" feature in the free BIS CARE app (GJEPC Solitaire).
Here's what most people don't know: BIS hallmarking is India's standard, not a US one, so many pieces sold in the US won't carry it. That's okay, as long as the purity is clearly stated in writing. At Indeevari, gold weight and purity are itemized on every quote, and BIS hallmarking is available on select pieces.
Quick tip: Ask any jeweler, "What's the exact karat, and will it be on my receipt?" If a hallmark matters to you, ask whether the piece can be hallmarked.
2. Know your karats
Most Indian jewelry is made in 22K gold. It has that warm, rich yellow color you see at weddings back home. It's softer than the 14K gold common in the US, which is why it's perfect for detailed work like Nakshi and Guttapusalu designs.
Diamond jewelry is often made in 18K gold. It's a little stronger, so it holds stones more securely.
Neither is better. They're just made for different things.
3. See the price breakdown
Indian gold jewelry is usually priced in parts: the gold value (based on weight), the stones, and the making charges. A trustworthy jeweler shows you all of it.
At Indeevari, every product page shows gross weight, net gold weight, and stone details. No guessing.
4. Ask about shipping and insurance
This is where online shopping gets scary, so ask directly:
- Is shipping insured?
- How long will it take?
- Who pays duties or extra fees?
All Indeevari orders ship free and fully insured to the USA, and we cover US duties and customs. No surprise fees at your door. US-held pieces in our In-Stock USA collection dispatch within 3 to 5 business days. Custom and made-to-order pieces take 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the design.
5. Talk to a real person
The best part of the jewelry shop was never the counter. It was the conversation.
Before you buy, call or video chat with the jeweler. Ask to see the piece on camera. Ask how it sits on the neck. Ask what saree it would go with. If they're patient and happy to help, that tells you a lot.
One of our customers, Susmitha, told us she was nervous to buy online from a new store. What changed her mind was having her questions answered on the phone, patiently, one by one. That's exactly how it should feel.
6. Ask about exchange
Indian gold is meant to last generations. Ask what happens if you want to upgrade or exchange it someday. Indeevari offers Lifetime Exchange, so you can trade up to something new whenever you're ready.
Your checklist
- Clear karat (22K or 18K), in writing
- A BIS hallmark, if that matters to you
- Full price breakdown
- Insured shipping to the USA, with duties covered
- A real person you can talk to
- An exchange policy
Ready to shop?
Browse our In-Stock USA collection for US-held pieces that dispatch in 3 to 5 business days, or book a video consultation and we'll help you find the one. Just like the shop trips you remember, only from your couch.
