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
Aspect Bullion & Refinery to launch 50 gold and silver vending machines nationwide on Akshaya Tritiya

Aspect Bullion and Refinery, a division of Aspect Global Ventures, has announced plans to roll out 50 gold and silver vending machines in the next 12-18 months. These state-of-the-art bullion vending machines have been indigenously developed by Aspect Bullion, assuring complete control over the planogram, software backend, and customer interface, reinforcing Aspect Bullion’s commitment to innovation, transparency and consumer trust. Strategically designated to be placed at high-footfall locations such as major malls, airports, temples, airports and more, the vending machines are designed to make purchasing precious metals faster, safer, and more accessible than ever before. Very soon, the brand will open another store in Mumbai and begin exploring franchise opportunities across India.
In the lead-up to Akshaya Tritiya — a festival synonymous with prosperity and gold purchases — Aspect Bullion has unveiled its first bullion vending machine at R City Mall, Ghatkopar, Mumbai. Shoppers can experience this innovative offering firsthand from April 26 to May 4, 2025.

Commenting on the initiative, Aksha Kamboj, Vice President, India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA) and Executive Chairperson, Aspect Global Ventures said, “Gold and silver have always been an important part of India’s culture and traditions. With our vending machine, we are combining tradition with technology to make buying precious metals easier, safer, and more transparent. Our goal is to give people a simple, convenient, and trusted way to invest in gold and silver. We are proud to launch India’s first bullion vending machine, and we believe this will change how consumers buy precious metals, especially during important occasions like Akshaya Tritiya.”
Each vending machine will offer a curated range of gold and silver coins and bars, featuring exclusive designs and premium packaging. Equipped with real-time market pricing, customers can view live rate updates at the point of purchase.
Security has been a top priority: the machines feature biometric authentication, live CCTV surveillance, backend tracking, and robust anti-tampering technology. Purchases can be completed in under three minutes using a variety of payment options, including UPI, Google Pay, and debit/credit cards. A digital and printed receipt is provided instantly, making the process seamless — simply select, pay, collect, and go. This seamless process allows customers to take spot possession of gold and silver coins, making the purchasing experience truly worthwhile
Aspect Bullion’s vending machine rollout marks a significant shift toward a modern, tech-enabled future for bullion retail in India — while staying true to the tradition and trust that gold embodies.
National News
Gold prices in India, international market dip sharply

Gold prices in India today fell sharply just two days ahead of the major gold-buying festival, Akshaya Tritiya 2025, which will be celebrated on April 30 (Wednesday). The gold rate in India at the beginning of this week showed signs of weakness, following the global spot gold price trend.
As of Monday, April 28, the 22-carat gold rate in India slipped massively by Rs. 620 per 10 grams to cost Rs. 89,400 per 10 grams. While the 24-carat gold prices today dropped hugely by Rs. 680 and are currently at Rs. 97,530 per 10 grams. Similarly, the 18-carat gold rate today retails at Rs 73,150, which dropped by Rs 510.
Gold rates in India are mirroring international market movements. US Gold prices dropped on Tuesday as softening trade tensions between the U.S. and its trading partners dulled the metal’s safe-haven appeal, while investors awaited U.S. economic data to assess the Federal Reserve’s policy path.Spot gold was down 0.8% at $3,314.65 an ounce, as of 0619 GMT. U.S. gold futures lost 0.7% to $3,324.20.
National News
Hari Krishna Exports Mumbai Office celebrates sports day 2025 with energy and smiles

Hari Krishna Exports’ Mumbai office came alive with cheers, excitement, and team spirit during the Annual Sports Day 2025.The event was organized to promote better health, stronger unity, and a sense of teamwork among employees.
Esteemed dignitaries from the diamond industry, along with Ghanshyambhai Dholakia and his family, graced the occasion and encouraged everyone with their presence.
The day began on a heartfelt note with the National Anthem, setting a patriotic tone. Soon after, the field lit up with energy as the games began in full swing.
From cricket tournaments and volleyball to ring football, tug-of-war, kabaddi, kho-kho, running races, and box cricket — both male and female employees participated enthusiastically with bright smiles.
It was wonderful to see everyone, from the youngest members to senior leaders, stepping onto the field with equal excitement.
Winners and runners-up were rewarded with cash prizes, diamond jewelry, branded shoes, and sports watches — a token of appreciation from Hari Krishna Exports for their efforts and team spirit.
To beat the summer heat, ORS water stalls were set up, and a delicious lunch was arranged for everyone.The event was even more special as employees’ families were also invited. Their cheers and support added warmth and joy to the entire atmosphere.

Ghanshyam Dholakia, our visionary founder, shared heartfelt words, praising the energy, effort, and passion shown by every member present.He said, “I saw the energy and love for sports in every participant, from the youngest to the oldest. It made me very happy.””My Hari Krishna team is like my family. I will continue to organise such activities every year with this familyEven those who did not win in this competition are winners for me.”
Sports Day 2025 was not just a celebration of fitness and fun but also a beautiful reminder of the togetherness that makes Hari Krishna Exports truly a family.
-
BrandBuzz3 weeks ago
Mia by Tanishq Unveils ‘Fiora’ Collection This Akshaya Tritiya: A Celebration of Nature’s Blossoms and New Beginnings
-
BrandBuzz6 days ago
A blooming new beginning: 5 jewellery picks to mark new beginnings this Akshaya Tritiya – Mia by Tanishq
-
BrandBuzz16 hours ago
ORRA Unveils Grand Akshaya Tritiya & Anniversary Festive Sale
-
BrandBuzz17 hours ago
Dassani Brothers Reimagine Heritage with Navya 2.0 This Akshay Tritiya