National News
Retail Gold Sales Drop 25% Amid Rising Prices, Lightweight Jewelry in Demand
A 4% rise in gold prices in March has led to a significant 25% decline in retail gold sales at jewelers and a 60% drop in Zaveri Bazaar. Indian families with upcoming weddings are feeling the pinch of higher gold prices, turning to lighter, lower-carat jewelry to meet bridal jewelry demands. Despite this, demand is expected to pick up during Akshay Tritiya in April, though lightweight jewelry remains the preferred choice.
Gold prices saw a near-4% increase in the first half of March, bringing down retail sales by 25% compared to the same period last year. Zaveri Bazaar, a hub where retail jewellers buy bullion and jewelry in bulk, saw a 60% drop in sales.
Senco Gold & Diamonds, Joy Alukkas, PNG Jewellers, Mamraj Musaddilal Jewellers, and senior executives from the India Bullion & Jewellers Association mentioned that Indian families, especially those with weddings planned for the upcoming season, are stressed by the escalating prices. As a result, they are opting for lightweight jewelry, as high prices make it difficult to stick to the traditional gold jewelry budgets.

Suvankar Sen, the chief of Senco Gold, shared that sales of small-ticket gold jewelry in the ₹30,000 – ₹40,000 price range have dried up. “The high prices are keeping customers away from spending on gold,” he said. On March 18, gold was priced at ₹88,256 per 10 gm in the physical market, with a 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST), pushing the cost to ₹90,903 per 10 gm.
“Those who have weddings in the family are buying lightweight jewellery as they cannot stretch the budget. Demand has dropped by 15% beginning from March and if this rally continues, the recovery in demand may not happen. The next big sales can only happen during Akshay Tritiya, which falls on April 30,” said the MD of Senco Gold & Diamond.
Despite the rise in prices, the demand has remained sluggish in South India too. “Compared to last March, demand is down by up to 25%. While the high price is a big factor in this demand drop, other things like board exams have slowed down demand as well,” said Baby George, CEO of Joy Alukkas.
Saurabh Gadgil, chairman of PNG Jewellers, also highlighted the shift in preferences. “People are buying lightweight jewellery, and many are exchanging old gold jewellery with new ones. The volumes are getting impacted but value-wise the jewellers are not facing any issue.”


Avinash Gupta, partner at Hyderabad-based Mamraj Musaddilal Jewellers, noted that while demand has softened, it hasn’t reached alarming levels. “Demand will bounce back in April due to weddings and Akshaya Tritiya, but definitely the preference will shift to lightweight and lower caratage jewellery.”
National News
PNG Jewellers Marks 25 Years Of Paud Road Store With ‘Choosing Gold’ Marathi Edition Launch By Actress Shreya Bugade
Launched Within Three Months Of The English Edition, The Marathi Memoir Was Unveiled In The Presence Of Actress Shreya Bugade At PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road Store.
Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director of PNG Jewellers, launched the Marathi edition of his debut memoir, Choosing Gold, in Pune, in the presence of popular Marathi actress Shreya Bugade. The Marathi edition comes just three months after the book’s English release in August 2026, bringing Dr Gadgil’s personal and professional journey closer to readers in his mother tongue. The launch took place at PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store, which also celebrated 25 glorious years of serving customers and building lasting relationships in Pune.

Choosing Gold offers a deeply personal account of Dr. Gadgil’s journey as the sixth-generation custodian of PNG Jewellers, one of India’s oldest and most respected jewellery businesses with a legacy spanning 194 years. Originally published in English by Penguin Random House India in August 2026, the memoir reflects on the challenges, defining decisions and experiences that shaped his leadership and the evolution of the business. With the launch of its Marathi edition, this journey now reaches readers in a language closely connected to Dr. Gadgil’s upbringing, family and roots.
More than the story of a successful entrepreneur, Choosing Gold is an honest reflection on the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy while finding one’s own identity. Having taken over the leadership of PNG Jewellers, Dr. Gadgil navigated several defining moments that tested his conviction and shaped his outlook. The memoir revisits the lessons learned from setbacks, conversations with his grandfather and mother that stayed with him over the years, and personal experiences that influenced his decisions. It also offers insight into his approach to leading and transforming a nearly two-century-old family business while remaining rooted in the values on which it was built.
Speaking on the launch, Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director, PNG Jewellers, said:

“Ever since the English edition of Choosing Gold was released, I had been eagerly looking forward to bringing the book to Marathi readers. Marathi is my mother tongue, and seeing my experiences, decisions and learnings reach readers in my own language is a moment of immense pride and happiness for me. Writing this book allowed me to revisit several moments in my life. Some decisions worked out, some did not, and the significance of a few became clear only years later. Each of these experiences has shaped the person I am today. My family’s values, the rich legacy of PNG Jewellers and the trust our customers have placed in us have all played an important role in this journey.
I am particularly happy that the Marathi edition will allow me to connect with readers in a more personal way. If even one experience from my journey helps someone approach a difficult decision with greater confidence, I would consider the purpose of this book fulfilled.”
Popular Marathi actress Shreya Bugade, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, said:
“It is truly an honour to be part of the launch of the Marathi edition of Dr. Saurabh Gadgil’s Choosing Gold. What makes this occasion even more special is that we are also celebrating 25 glorious years of PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store. It is a double celebration, and I am delighted to be part of it.”

The launch of the Marathi edition marks another significant milestone in Dr. Gadgil’s journey as an author. Going beyond the world of business, the memoir explores leadership, family, relationships, responsibility and the importance of believing in one’s decisions. Its themes extend beyond entrepreneurs and business professionals, offering relatable experiences and reflections for readers navigating their own ambitions, challenges and choices.


The occasion also marked the silver jubilee of PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store, celebrating 25 glorious years of customer trust and relationships. Over the past two and a half decades, the store has built a strong connection with generations of customers in the neighbourhood, making it an important part of PNG Jewellers’ journey in Pune.
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