Precious-metal rakhis, coins and lightweight jewellery were the flavour of the season this year, with customers choosing keepsakes with lasting value over chocolates and traditional presents, discovers Preeti Kulkarni

Rising gold prices are prompting Indian consumers to sell old jewellery for cash, while organised jewellers expand cash-for-gold programmes to increase recycled gold supply.

Rising gold prices are pushing Indian jewellers towards lower-purity jewellery, with 9-carat offerings gaining traction as retailers seek more accessible price points for consumers.

Rising gold prices are influencing festive and wedding jewellery demand, with retailers and consumers showing greater interest in lightweight designs and distinctive chains, according to the report.

India’s platinum jewellery demand increased 4% in 2025 despite economic headwinds and elevated gold prices, driven by wedding jewellery, men’s jewellery and retailer expansion, according to Platinum Guild International.

Divine Solitaires said rising gold prices and changing consumer sentiment are encouraging buyers to consider natural diamonds for milestone purchases, while supporting India’s diamond manufacturing and export ecosystem.

India's listed jewellers have posted their best March quarter on record. Strip out a 79% rise in the gold price, and a quieter, more uncomfortable picture emerges — one the unorganized trade and several regional listings have already started to live with.

World Gold Council’s Q1 2026 report shows global gold demand rose 2% year-on-year as record prices reduced jewellery volumes but boosted bar, coin and ETF investment demand worldwide.

Jewellery retailers across India face rising dead inventory levels, with 30–40% unsold stock locking capital, driven by changing consumer preferences, rising gold prices, and slower movement of traditional designs.

Platinum Guild International’s Q4 2025 review highlights regional market shifts, with platinum gaining share across China, India, Japan, and the US as record gold prices influence consumer demand patterns.

As gold prices fluctuate, and consumer preferences evolve, manufacturers are reshaping design, caratage, and pricing to position gold as everyday wear with inherent value, observes Dhwani Rathod.

Jewellery retail is shifting from event-based transactions to long-term customer relationships. As buying behaviour evolves, repeat customers are emerging as the most reliable drivers of profitability, stability and sustained growth for retailers.

Changing consumer behaviour, rising gold prices and faster buying cycles are driving demand for lightweight, high-rotation jewellery, forcing retailers to rethink inventory planning, merchandising strategies and sales approaches.

Buying activity softened as laboratory-grown diamonds and gold prices reshaped loose diamond trade dynamics at IIJS Bharat Signature 2026. Exhibitors observed slower conversions, but continued relevance, for natural diamonds, reports Khursheed Mistry.