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

India’s INR 7 lakh crore jewellery market is seeing lower gold volumes but higher consumer spending, prompting retailers to focus on lightweight, lower-carat and studded jewellery.

Senco Gold & Diamonds has introduced its ‘Drops of Joy’ campaign across India from July 3, 2026, offering discounts on gold and diamond jewellery to support seasonal consumer purchases.

Platinum Guild International’s 2025 Business Review says platinum jewellery demand rose across major markets despite high gold prices, tariffs and manufacturing pressures, with resilience expected to continue into 2026.

De Beers Group’s latest US consumer study finds Gen Z driving natural diamond demand, average purchase values rising, and non-bridal occasions accounting for most acquisitions, offering key retail insights.

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.

Natural diamond ownership among Indian women rose to 15% in 2025 from 11% in 2022, driven by younger consumers, rising incomes and increasing self-purchase trends, according to NDC.

As collaborative jewellery shopping gains momentum, retailers are witnessing higher ticket sizes, evolving design preferences, and stronger emotional engagement driven by mothers and daughters shopping together, observes Dhwani Rathod.

BlueStone-backed Ethera launched its Mother’s Day campaign and jewellery edit on May 7, 2026, highlighting evolving consumer preferences for everyday lab-grown diamond jewellery through a digital storytelling-led retail initiative.

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.

As multiple jewellery trade shows run consecutively across India, exhibitors face repeat buyers, cautious spending, and shorter attention spans, prompting shifts in merchandizing strategies and booth engagement approaches, discovers Dhwani Rathod

The ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict is disrupting diamond trade flows, impacting key hubs, delaying shipments, and pressuring logistics; however, the industry is hopeful of things returning to normal once the geopolitical tensions ease, finds out Dhwani Rathod.

Despite a sharp contraction in shipments to the United States, India’s gems and jewellery exports show resilience, supported by strong growth in the UAE, Hong Kong and emerging global markets.

Union Budget 2026-27 makes a strong push for MSMEs, with a Rs 10,000-crore SME Growth Fund; besides, it enables faster payments via mandatory TReDS for CPSE purchases. Overall, the Budget emphasizes fiscal prudence, infrastructure creation, and ease of doing business. For a sector navigating global uncertainty, shifting consumer preferences, and rising compliance standards, it is stability that the enabler.