National News
Raniwala 1881 Partners with Francorp to Scale Retail Footprint Through Franchising
The iconic Jaipur-based jewellery house adopts FOFO and FOCO models to expand across India while preserving its royal heritage and artisanal legacy
Raniwala 1881, the luxury jewellery brand rooted in Jaipur’s rich heritage, has announced a strategic alliance with Francorp, the franchising advisory arm of Franchise India Group, to fuel its next phase of growth through a structured franchise model.
This partnership marks a significant milestone for the 140-year-old brand as it seeks to expand its retail footprint across India while staying true to its legacy of regal design and meticulous craftsmanship.
Under the agreement, Raniwala 1881 will implement both Franchise-Owned, Franchise-Operated (FOFO) and Franchise-Owned, Company-Operated (FOCO) models. These formats aim to offer opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors to be part of the evolution of one of India’s most prestigious fine jewellery brands.

“Our jewellery is more than just adornment; it is a representation of centuries-old craftsmanship and a deep-rooted heritage,” said Abhishek Raniwala, Managing Director of Raniwala 1881. “With the growing demand for handcrafted Polki and Jadau jewellery, this partnership with Francorp allows us to expand while preserving our brand’s exclusivity.”
Founded in the 19th century by Rai Bahadur Champalal of Beawar, the brand carries a legacy dating back to the British era, when the family was honored with the title “Raniwala.” The brand continues to be a trusted name in bridal jewellery, known for its 18-karat gold Polki pieces that appeal to both Gen Z and Millennial audiences.
Over the years, Raniwala 1881 has also collaborated with some of India’s top fashion designers, including Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Manish Malhotra, and Rahul Mishra, reinforcing its place at the intersection of heritage and high fashion.
The shift toward franchising comes as India’s jewellery market undergoes a transformation, with consumers increasingly gravitating toward branded, story-driven luxury pieces that offer authenticity and traceability.
Francorp will help guide Raniwala 1881’s expansion across metro cities and fast-growing luxury markets, ensuring a consistent retail experience that honors the brand’s heritage.

“Luxury retail is evolving rapidly, and heritage brands like Raniwala 1881 are leading the way in strategic expansion while maintaining timeless elegance and exclusivity,” said Gaurav Marya, Chairman of Franchise India Group. “Franchising provides an effective model to scale without compromising brand integrity. With FOFO and FOCO formats, we’re introducing a new dimension to luxury jewellery retail in India.”
National News
PNG Jewellers’ CMD Dr. Saurabh Gadgil Launches Debut Memoir ‘Choosing Gold’
~Inside the mindset that built PNG Jewellers: a sixth-generation jeweller on conviction, patience, and choosing the harder path ~
He inherited one of India’s oldest business legacies in his mid-thirties. Today, Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director of PNG Jewellers, tells the story of everything that came with it, in ‘Choosing Gold’, his debut memoir, released nationally by Penguin Random House India.

‘Choosing Gold’ is a deeply honest and personal book. It is the story of a man who inherited one of India’s oldest business legacies at a young age, and who has now, at forty-nine, paused to reflect on that remarkable journey. Not as the world sees it from the outside, but as he truly lived it.
The memoir traces the moments that shaped him, conversations with his grandfather and mother that stayed with him for life, lessons that revealed their meaning only with time, and difficult decisions that tested his conviction before they proved their worth. The 194-year-old legacy of PNG Jewellers forms the backdrop of this journey. But at its heart, the book is about the man himself, his growth, his choices, his struggles, and the courage it takes to carve one’s own path while honouring what came before.
Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director, PNG Jewellers, said:

“For most of my life, I was too busy living this journey to examine it. Writing this book forced me to sit still for the first time and ask myself questions I had avoided for nearly three decades. Which of my decisions was I actually proud of? Which ones do I still lose sleep over? What did I get right by wisdom, and what did I merely get right by luck? Choosing Gold is my honest attempt at answering those questions, without the polish, without the retrospective genius we all like to grant ourselves.
What surprised me most in writing it was discovering how much of my story was shaped in the quiet moments, a conversation with my grandfather I didn’t realise I’d remember forever, a failure I hid from everyone, including myself, and advice I dismissed at twenty-five and only truly understood decades later. Those moments made me far more than anything that shows up on a balance sheet. I wrote this book for every dreamer standing where I once stood, ambitious, uncertain, carrying expectations they never asked for, wondering if they have it in them. I don’t offer them a formula, because there isn’t one, but the truth and first-hand virtues that have traced me to where I am today … something that balance sheets won’t ever reflect. If my story helps even one reader make their next hard choice with a little more courage and a little less fear, then this book has done everything I hoped it would.”
Anuj Datta, Lead – Penguin Enterprise, Custom Publishing, Penguin Random House India, said, “As publishers, we’re always looking for stories that offer something beyond success. What struck me about Choosing Gold was its honesty. Saurabh doesn’t just talk about achievements; he reflects on the difficult decisions, setbacks and moments of doubt that shaped his journey. That’s what makes this memoir compelling. It’s not simply a business story; it’s a deeply personal account of leadership and resilience. I believe readers, whether they’re entrepreneurs, business leaders or professionals at any stage of their careers, will find something meaningful in these pages.”
‘Choosing Gold’ is Dr. Gadgil’s honest ledger of his choices, written for readers far beyond the jewellery trade, inheritors carrying weight they never asked for, first-generation entrepreneurs building without a name to lean on, and professionals at every stage confronting self-doubt head-on.

The book was formally celebrated at a private launch event in Mumbai on 6th August, where Dr. Gadgil was joined in conversation by actor Madhuri Dixit for a Q&A on the journey behind ‘Choosing Gold’.
‘Choosing Gold’ is available at all PNG Jewellers stores across India as well as pngjewellers.com and is open for pre-order on Amazon. The book will be available at leading bookstores nationwide by 31st August 2026. The Kindle edition will be available soon.
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