National News
Trump’s reciprocal tariffs spark job loss fears in GJ sector
The U.S. government’s move to impose reciprocal tariffs has sent ripples of concern through India’s gem and jewellery sector, a vital component of the nation’s economy. Here’s a breakdown of the key issues and implications:
The Core Issue: Reciprocal Tariffs and Trade Imbalance
Unequal Tariff Structures: The heart of the issue lies in the perceived imbalance in tariff structures between the U.S. and India. India currently levies a 20% tariff on gold jewellery imported from the U.S., while the U.S. applies a significantly lower duty of 5.5-7% on Indian gold jewellery. Similarly, India imposes a 5% tariff on cut and polished diamonds, whereas the U.S. has historically maintained zero tariffs on these Indian exports. This discrepancy has prompted the U.S. to consider reciprocal tariffs, aiming to create a more level playing field.
Potential Impact on Exports: The U.S. is a critical market for Indian gem and jewellery exports. Any increase in U.S. tariffs would directly raise the cost of Indian products for American consumers, potentially reducing demand and negatively impacting export volumes.
Key Export Categories at Risk: The primary export categories facing potential disruptions include:
• Cut and polished diamonds: A major export segment, historically enjoying tariff-free access to the U.S. market.
• Studded gold jewellery: A significant contributor to export revenue.
• Plain gold jewellery: Another essential export commodity.
• Lab-grown diamonds: A growing sector within the Indian gem and jewellery industry.
Economic and Social Implications for India
• Impact on Export Revenue: A decline in gem and jewellery exports would directly affect India’s foreign exchange earnings.
• Employment Concerns: The industry is a significant employer, providing livelihoods to over two million people, with a substantial portion being women and individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Tariff-induced disruptions could lead to job losses and economic hardship for these vulnerable populations.
• Industry Vulnerability: While not the single largest export driver, the gem and jewellery sector holds a vital position in India’s economy. Its labor intensive nature, and the high value of its exports makes it very important.
• Trade Relations: The tariff issue has the potential to strain trade relations between India and the U.S., potentially impacting other areas of economic cooperation.
Factors to Consider
• Market Dynamics: The extent of the impact will depend on the magnitude of the tariff hikes and the ability of Indian exporters to absorb the increased costs or find alternative markets.
• Negotiations: The outcome will also depend on the results of ongoing or future trade negotiations between the two countries.
• Lab-grown Diamonds: The lab-grown diamond market is fairly new, and very dynamic. Any tariff changes could drastically alter the market share of Indian companies in the United States.
In essence, the potential imposition of reciprocal tariffs by the U.S. poses a significant challenge to India’s gem and jewellery industry, with potential ramifications for export revenue, employment, and overall economic stability.
National News
Silver jewellery and articles sector shines bright
Driven by affordability, evolving consumer preferences, retailer investment and design-led positioning
India’s silver jewellery and articles sector is doing well despite high prices because consumers are treating silver as an affordable alternative to gold, while retailers are widening the category through gold-plated silver and dedicated standalone stores.
Beyond jewellery, silver articles and artefacts are emerging as an important pillar of India’s broader silver market, supported by strong cultural traditions, gifting habits, and rising premium consumption. From pooja items, idols, utensils, and decorative homeware to corporate gifting and commemorative pieces, silver continues to hold deep emotional and ceremonial value in Indian households.
Silver jewellery’s current momentum appears rooted in deeper structural drivers: affordability, evolving consumer preferences, retailer investment, and design-led positioning. For middle and upper-middle-income households, silver offers entry into the precious metal ecosystem at a fraction of the ticket size, without diluting the emotional equity attached to metal ownership
Market momentum
- Silver jewellery is gaining traction among price-sensitive buyers, younger consumers, and gift shoppers who want style without the cost of gold. Industry commentary points to silver’s role as a daily-wear, lightweight option. Trade‑aligned market assessments (incorporating GJEPC and World Silver Survey data) put India’s silver jewellery and silverware segment at a CAGR of around 4–6% between 2025 and 2029, slightly below but aligned with the broader jewellery market’s 6–7% growth.
Why silver is selling
High gold prices have pushed many buyers toward silver, especially for lower-ticket purchases in the ₹10,000–₹30,000 range. Gold-plated silver jewellery is also popular because it gives a gold-like look at a much lower price, which has helped expand the customer base beyond traditional silver buyers.
Retail expansion
A notable trend is the rise of standalone silver stores and organised silver formats, as retailers see room to build a separate identity for the category rather than treating it as an add-on to gold. This works well in India because silver has strong gifting, fashion, and everyday-wear demand, especially in tier 2 and tier 3 markets.
Retailers are widening assortments to include fashion jewellery, premium silverware, gifting collections, office wear, bridal-inspired silver, men’s accessories, and personalised jewellery.
Organized retail is also improving design innovation, visual merchandising, branding, and customer trust—areas where silver historically lagged behind gold jewellery.
Hallmarking boost
Silver hallmarking has become more credible with the BIS’s voluntary HUID-based system, which began on 1 September 2025 and uses a digitally traceable format with defined purity grades. That should help consumer trust, especially for branded retail and premium silver jewellery.
Import restrictions
The DGFT’s restriction on certain silver jewellery imports, aimed largely at curbing flows from Thailand and some ASEAN routes, has supported domestic players by reducing pressure from imported merchandise.
Silver shines bright
Long-term growth in India’s silver jewellery market is increasingly being driven by changing consumer behavior, with jewellery viewed less as a one-time investment and more as an accessible expression of personal style. For retailers and manufacturers investing in branding, hallmarking, premiumization, and dedicated retail formats, silver jewellery is emerging as one of the most promising growth opportunities in the Indian jewellery sector.
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