National News

Retail Gold Sales Drop 25% Amid Rising Prices, Lightweight Jewelry in Demand

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2025

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.”

Related Topics:2025 GoldSales nationalnews Retail Gold

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National News

IBJA, SAARTHI 360 Sign MoU To Launch ‘NextGen CEO: Leadership for the Future’

Executive Education Initiative To Equip The Next Generation Of Jewellery Manufacturers With The Leadership Capabilities, Strategic Perspective and Decision-Making Skills Required To Lead Family Businesses.

Published

2 hours ago

October 27, 2026

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The India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA) and SAARTHI 360 have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch ‘NextGen CEO: Leadership for the Future’, an executive education programme designed to prepare the next generation of jewellery manufacturers for CEO and senior leadership roles in family-owned businesses.

The programme will help emerging leaders move beyond day-to-day operations by strengthening their strategic thinking, leadership judgement and managerial capabilities to improve organisational performance and support sustainable growth.

Building the Next Generation of Jewellery Business Leaders

Centred on ‘NextGen CEO — Becoming the CEO of a Family Jewellery Business’, the programme addresses leadership succession and executive decision-making in family-owned jewellery enterprises.

Understanding the CEO’s role: Defining a CEO’s responsibilities and expectations in a jewellery business.
Clarifying leadership and governance roles: Distinguishing among an owner, promoter, director, managing director and CEO.
Strategic leadership versus daily operations: Moving from routine management to long-term business direction and priorities.
Decision-making and strategic thinking: Applying structured frameworks to complex business situations.
Managing stakeholders: Navigating relationships with family members, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders.
Performance measurement: Using a CEO dashboard to monitor performance and support informed decisions.
The first 100 days as CEO: Establishing priorities for the transition into executive leadership.
Second-generation leadership challenges: Addressing succession, authority, accountability and organisational change.
Ethics and integrity: Building trust through responsible leadership, sound governance and ethical decision-making.

Surendra Mehta, National Secretary, IBJA, said:

“Family-owned jewellery businesses play a significant role in India’s gems and jewellery industry. As these businesses grow and prepare for generational transitions, developing capable and confident future leaders becomes increasingly important. Through this initiative, we aim to help the next generation build the clarity, discipline and leadership capabilities needed to take their businesses forward while preserving the strengths of their family legacy.”

Binit Bhatt, Partner, SAARTHI 360, said:

“Becoming a CEO is about much more than inheriting a title. It requires a fundamental shift in mindset—from managing day-to-day operations to setting direction, making informed decisions, building accountability and earning the confidence of family members, employees and other stakeholders. The NextGen CEO programme is designed to equip emerging leaders with practical frameworks and perspectives that they can apply to the realities of their own businesses.”

Hitesh Khandelwal, Partner, SAARTHI 360, said:

“Jewellery businesses are navigating an important generational transition, where preserving a strong legacy must go hand in hand with professional management and strategic thinking. Through NextGen CEO, we aim to help emerging leaders develop the confidence, capabilities and business perspective required to lead effectively, drive sustainable growth and prepare their organisations for the future.”