Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 19 (ANI): Despite gold prices remaining at elevated levels, traditional jewellery, intricate craftsmanship and lightweight designs are attracting buyers in Shimla ahead of the upcoming festive and wedding season, with jewellers reporting strong interest in new collections at a four-day exhibition here.
The jewellery exhibition, being organised from September 19 to 22 at a hotel in Shimla, has brought together more than 5,000 designs across gold, diamond, polki, temple and silver jewellery, with the organisers saying the focus this year is on designs, transparency and lightweight craftsmanship.
With the wedding season expected to remain active over the next five to six months, jewellers and customers say demand for jewellery continues despite high gold prices, while old-gold exchange schemes are also emerging as an option for buyers looking to purchase new designs without bearing the entire cost in cash.
Speaking to ANI, Akshay Verma of Verma Jewellers said jewellery prices had remained relatively stable in recent days, but customers were increasingly looking for variety, quality and transparency.
“Rates are relatively stable at the moment, and there are many weddings coming up in Himachal over the next five to six months. Customers are excited about the season. This is the first time we have organised the exhibition before Navratri and the wedding season because we wanted to address what customers are looking for,” he said.
Verma said one of the major concerns among jewellery buyers was finding designs that combined quality with transparency, particularly when customers were unsure whether they needed to travel outside Himachal to find newer designs.
He said the exhibition had been planned to address that gap by bringing a large variety of designs under one roof.
“Today the question is not only about the price. Customers want to know where they can find the best designs, whether they have to travel outside the state and, most importantly, whether they are getting the right quality. Transparency has become a major concern.” He said.
Verma said the exhibition featured more than 5,000 designs, including diamond, polki, temple, traditional yellow-gold and silver jewellery.
He said the designs had been developed with a focus on reducing weight while retaining the appearance and craftsmanship of heavier traditional pieces.
“We have brought more than 5,000 designs for the grand wedding exhibition. Whether it is diamond jewellery, polki, temple jewellery, normal yellow gold or silver, customers will find different varieties and budgets under one roof,” he added.
He said the exhibition was the largest organised by the company so far and that preparations had been underway for nearly six months.
The jeweller also highlighted an old-gold exchange programme, saying customers could exchange their existing jewellery for new pieces.
“We have also brought an old-gold exchange offer. Customers can see the gold being melted in front of them and its purity checked through a karat meter. The valuation is done transparently, and there is no deduction under the offer,” Verma added.
Verma said the jewellery industry had also been promoting gold recycling through old-gold exchange, which, according to him, could help reduce dependence on newly imported gold.
He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier appeals for reducing gold imports, saying the recycling of old gold through exchange could contribute towards that objective.
Verma also said the company was offering insurance with jewellery purchases, particularly in view of concerns among customers about carrying expensive jewellery during weddings and other occasions.
“All our jewellery will come with insurance. For jewellery purchases above Rs 25,000, customers will receive insurance along with the bill. We want customers to feel secure, especially at a time when gold prices are rising and people are concerned about carrying jewellery.” He added further.
He said jewellery remained closely connected with Indian culture and emotions, particularly among women, and expressed confidence that demand would continue despite fluctuations in prices.
Verma said customers had arrived at the exhibition from different parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Rampur, Kullu-Manali, Sundernagar and Mandi.
“Our first customer arrived at around 8.30 am from Rampur, even before we had completely arranged the exhibition. We are also seeing registrations from Kullu-Manali, Sundernagar and Mandi. That shows the interest people have in jewellery and new designs,” he said.
The exhibition also includes a special draw for prospective brides and grooms, with 10 diamond mangalsutras to be given through a draw scheduled for September 22 at the exhibition venue.
Verma urged families preparing for weddings to visit the exhibition even if they were not immediately planning to purchase jewellery.
“If there is a wedding in your family, come and see the designs. Buying or not buying is a separate matter, but I believe people should come and see the collection because of the variety and lightweight designs we have brought this time,” he said.
Harpreet Kaur Senbi, who visited the exhibition, said the variety of designs and craftsmanship had attracted her attention, particularly the lightweight versions of jewellery that appeared heavier because of their intricate work.
“It is a very impressive exhibition. There are more than 5,000 intricate designs, and the craftsmanship is beautiful. Some of the designs look very heavy because of the detailed work, but their actual weight is much less. That makes them comparatively affordable,” she told ANI.
She said the collection offered a wide variety for customers preparing for weddings and festive occasions.
“There is a lot of variety, and I would like everyone to come and see the collection at least once. It is the wedding season and there is inflation, but these lightweight designs are a good option for buyers,” Senbi said.
Senbi also spoke about the old-gold exchange facility, saying many Indian households already have traditional jewellery that may no longer match contemporary preferences.
“There is a good exchange scheme because many households already have gold jewellery. People can bring their old traditional jewellery and exchange it for new designs. It gives them an opportunity to get a good value for their old jewellery,” she added.
Asked about prevailing gold prices, she said the price was very high but added that jewellery remained an important part of weddings and cultural traditions.
With the festive season approaching and weddings expected to drive jewellery demand in the coming months, jewellers are increasingly focusing on lightweight products, exchange programmes and design variety as buyers balance traditional preferences with elevated gold prices. (ANI)
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