National News
WGC Cautions Against Gold Import Duty Hike in Budget 2025
The World Gold Council (WGC) has raised concerns over the potential impact of an increase in gold import duties in the upcoming Union Budget for 2025. The government’s decision to lower the import duty on gold in July 2024 had a significantly positive effect on the industry. It led to a reduction in informal gold imports, stabilized official channels, and fostered a more transparent and organized market. The WGC highlighted that raising duties now could lead to a surge in smuggling, drive up domestic gold prices, and negatively impact the sector’s growth.
Sachin Jain, Regional CEO of WGC India, emphasized the importance of maintaining the current customs duty to ensure continued stability in the market. He pointed out that any increase in import duties could reverse the progress made over the last year, especially as the gold industry contributes approximately 1.3% to India’s GDP and provides employment to 20-30 lakh people. Jain called on the government, financial institutions, and industry players to work together to preserve the positive momentum in the market, fostering an environment where the gold sector can continue to thrive.
The government’s budget announcement on February 1 will be closely watched, particularly as India grapples with weak GDP growth and a slowdown in consumption. With expectations for progressive, industry-friendly measures, the WGC hopes that the government will maintain its stance on reducing gold taxes and focus on measures that support economic growth while benefiting all stakeholders in the gold industry.
National News
Zi Launches As A Modern Indian Design House Redefining Everyday Luxury
The New Jewellery Brand Makes Its Debut With 925 Sterling Silver, With An Expanding Design Vocabulary Across Titanium, Gold and Lab-Grown Diamonds
Zi, a new Indian design house, has launched with its debut collection of 925 sterling silver jewellery, bringing contemporary, everyday designs to a category traditionally shaped around occasion and ceremony. Starting at Rs 3,500, the collection marks the first chapter of Zi’s ambition to build a modern jewellery house where luxury is defined by design, material and wearability rather than spectacle.
Zi begins with a simple shift in how jewellery is approached: pieces need not be saved for a particular occasion. Its debut collection is designed to become part of an everyday wardrobe, with clean forms, considered detailing and versatile silhouettes that can be worn repeatedly, styled differently and carried across settings.



The collection is divided into three edits: Staple Edits, featuring everyday essentials; Forever Favourites, comprising versatile pieces designed for repeat wear; and Evening Elegance, bringing a more elevated expression to after-dark and occasion dressing. Across the edits, the pieces are designed to work independently or together, allowing customers to build a personal jewellery wardrobe rather than buy around individual occasions.
925 sterling silver forms the foundation of the launch, chosen for its versatility and as the starting point for Zi’s design language. The collection also incorporates other considered metals across select designs and is finished with premium rhodium plating. The jewellery is nickel- and lead-free, with a focus on material quality, finish and everyday wearability.
But silver is only the beginning for Zi. The brand is developing its next phase around more considered, design-led jewellery, including upcoming collections such as The Classics and The Atelier. These collections will build on the restraint of the debut while introducing greater depth and design expression, expanding the idea of what everyday luxury can look like over time.
The house is also developing jewellery across a broader material palette, including titanium fused with gold and lab-grown diamonds. Each material has been selected for a distinct role: titanium for its strength and lightness, gold for its warmth, and lab-grown diamonds as a contemporary interpretation of an established luxury material. The move reflects Zi’s intent to build a design house with a considered material philosophy, rather than remain defined by a single category or metal.
Beyond jewellery, Zi is exploring future lifestyle categories, with design continuing to anchor the brand’s approach. The long-term ambition is to create a design-led house that evolves across materials, products and categories while maintaining a consistent point of view.
The debut collection is available exclusively through Zi’s online platform from 24 August 2026, with prices starting at Rs 3,500.
With its launch, Zi is introducing a different proposition to India’s jewellery landscape: luxury designed not only for the moments that call for it, but for the everyday ones that make up a life. The debut in silver is the starting point; the larger ambition is to build a house with a design language that can evolve with the way modern India wears luxury.
-
National News42 minutes agoZi Launches As A Modern Indian Design House Redefining Everyday Luxury
-
National News2 hours agoGJEPC Holds “Chaupal – 3Es: Educate, Empower And Export” For Zaveri Bazar Members
-
BrandBuzz3 hours agoCartier Unveils Five New Creatures In Its “Into The Wild” High Jewellery Collection
-
National News2 hours agoMMTC-PAMP Unveils The Lord Ganesha 50g Silver Bar, A Timeless Symbol Of Auspiciousness and New Beginnings

