National News
Gudi Padwa jewellery sales flat; demand for gold coins surges
Gold prices have surged to nearly Rs 90,000 per 10 grams (excluding GST) in the physical market, leading to a noticeable decline in jewellery sales in Maharashtra/Goa during Gudi Padwa, a festival traditionally associated with gold purchases. Despite this, demand for gold coins as an investment remains strong, as consumers anticipate further price appreciation. Mumbai’s largest gold hub has observed a shift in consumer behavior toward gold coins and bars. Traders said that buyers are purchasing gold coins with the expectation of future price increases.
As of Gudi Padwa, gold prices have reached nearly Rs 90,000 per 10 grams, making gold jewellery significantly more expensive. Higher prices have deterred traditional jewellery buyers, shifting demand towards investment-oriented purchases, such as gold coins. Industry experts anticipate that gold prices may continue to rise, reinforcing gold’s status as a long-term store of value.
Equal demand was observed between gold jewellery and investment-grade coins. Retailers introduced discounts and exchange offers, but high prices still impacted sales volume.Tier-2 cities experienced similar trends, with more gold coin buyers than jewellery shoppers. Lightweight jewellery, silver accessories, and gold-plated ornaments saw higher traction compared to heavy gold jewellery.
Global trade tensions and potential U.S. Fed rate cuts are boosting gold’s attractiveness as an investment. Investors are shifting towards gold due to its historical role as a hedge against inflation and economic instability The Indian Rupee’s performance against the U.S. Dollar is also a contributing factor to local gold price fluctuations.
National News
India’s Silver Market Grapples With A Surge In Counterfeit Silver
Impure Silver Is Proliferating Across Bars, Coins, Jewelry, and Everyday Household Items, Capitalizing On Strong Demand For The Precious Metal
—India’s booming silver market is confronting a deepening purity crisis that threatens to erode investor confidence and expose consumers to health risks, as counterfeiters exploit record-high prices with a flood of substandard metal.
Impure silver is proliferating across bars, coins, jewelry, and everyday household items, capitalizing on strong demand for the precious metal as both an investment and industrial commodity. Despite the introduction of mandatory hallmarking rules in September 2025, compliance among jewelers remains patchy, leaving buyers with little assurance about what they are purchasing.
The consequences extend beyond financial loss. Substandard silver products often contain hazardous elements such as nickel, cadmium, and lead—contaminants that typically slip in through poorly refined scrap metal. Industry officials say the average purity of recycled silver has deteriorated sharply, falling from around 85% five years ago to just 50-55% today.
Infrastructure shortfalls are compounding the problem. India, which consumes nearly 7,000 tonnes of silver annually and imports more than 80% of its requirements, has only 286 government-recognized assaying and hallmarking centers. By comparison, the gold sector is supported by 1,595 such facilities. The mismatch has created bottlenecks as silver demand surges amid supply constraints that have pushed domestic prices as much as 10% above global benchmarks.
The Precious Metals Refineries Forum, an industry body representing refiners, has issued an urgent appeal for stronger oversight. It is calling on regulators to rigorously enforce hallmarking requirements, introduce compulsory licensing for silver refiners, and rapidly expand the network of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-approved refineries and testing centers to levels comparable with those for gold.
The situation reflects the challenges of managing a fast-growing market for a metal that sits at the intersection of traditional investment, jewelry, and critical industrial uses. As silver prices remain elevated, the incentive for adulteration has only grown, testing the limits of India’s regulatory framework and its ability to safeguard one of the world’s largest precious-metals markets.
-
BrandBuzz3 hours agoLukson Unveils ‘The Devil Wears Prada Inspired’ Collection Bringing Runway-Inspired Lab-Grown Diamond Jewellery to Modern Consumers
-
National News2 hours agoIndia’s Silver Market Grapples With A Surge In Counterfeit Silver
-
ShowBuzz4 hours agoCBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project To Las Vegas Show
-
National News2 hours ago4 Exquisite Jewellery Treasures From Golubhai Badalia Diamonds To Build the Ultimate Wedding Trousseau

