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
IJEX 6TH Fam provides comprehensive insights into ME market
Five-day immersion under GJEPC’s Export Mentorship Programme equips Indian exporters with market intelligence, retail exposure, and strategic clarity across the UAE jewellery landscape.
The five-day Familiarisation (FAM) Program by GJEPC’s India Jewellery Exposition Centre (IJEX), Dubai, provided Indian jewellery exporters with comprehensive insights into the Middle East market, focusing on regional dynamics, consumer preferences, and retail environments across the UAE.
The 6th batch of the IJEX FAM Programme, initiated and facilitated under GJEPC’s Export Mentorship Programme (EMP), delivered a structured five-day immersion into the UAE jewellery ecosystem, combining market intelligence, design orientation, logistics guidance, and extensive retail visits across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Participants consistently highlighted the programme’s practical value, mentorship, and clarity in building export readiness.
Day 1: Understanding the Middle East Landscape
The programme commenced at IJEX with an introduction session followed by a presentation on navigating the Middle East jewellery market, covering regional dynamics, consumer preferences across emirates, export opportunities, and positioning strategies across wholesale and retail segments. Delegates then visited Ithraa Wholesale & Retail, Goldcenter Building, Gold House, Jewel Plaza, Traditional Gold Souq, African Souq, and Gold Land, together representing around 475 retailers and 460 offices, giving participants a broad view of both wholesale and traditional trading ecosystems.
Day 2: New Dubai Retail and Design Insights
A designer interaction session focused on branding, cultural motifs, and regional aesthetics relevant to GCC consumers. Market visits to Mall of the Emirates, Lulu Hypermarket – Al Barsha, Gold & Diamond Park, and Dubai Hills Mall allowed delegates to observe nearly 115 jewellery retailers across luxury malls, diaspora-focused outlets, and specialised diamond boutiques, highlighting differences in merchandising, product mix, and customer behaviour.
Day 3: Logistics, Compliance and Market Diversity
A session by Ferrari Freight Forwarders covered import procedures, documentation, duties, and secure logistics handling. Subsequent visits to Dubai Mall, Dubai Design District (d3), Karama Centre, and Meena Bazaar brought delegates in contact with about 150 retailers, spanning ultra-luxury international brands to culturally driven Indian diaspora markets, reinforcing the diversity of customer segments within the UAE. .
Day 4: Abu Dhabi Market Exploration
Visits to Madinat Zayed Gold Centre, Hamdan Street, and Abu Dhabi Mall covered roughly 132 jewellery stores, offering insights into the capital’s consumer preferences across luxury, traditional Arabic styles, and price-sensitive segments. Delegates reported improved clarity in identifying suitable positioning and product strategies for different emirates.
Day 5: Strategy Alignment and Expansion
The final day focused on one-to-one consultations with the IJEX team, followed by a certificate ceremony and a visit to Sharjah Blue Souq, where delegates explored around 110 jewellery stores known for 18kt, 21kt, and 22kt gold, diamonds, and silver collections, further expanding their understanding of regional demand across the Northern Emirates.
Overall, participants described the programme as informative, well-organised, and strongly supportive, with several stating that the experience provided clarity, confidence, and a concrete roadmap for entering export markets through IJEX.
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