Indian Gold Book:Indian Gold Book - Gold Bars Worldwide
Indian Gold Book:Indian Gold Book - Gold Bars Worldwide
Indian Gold Book:Indian Gold Book - Gold Bars Worldwide
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JEWELLERY FABRICATORS<br />
All centres, with the exception of Coimbatore, have progressively increased their output, and the proportion sold outside<br />
their cities, over the past 5 years. Kolkata is now reported to sell around 75% of its output outside, Mumbai 70% and New<br />
Delhi 50%.<br />
The fabrication of machine-made jewellery is dominated by Mumbai, widely acknowledged to account for 60% or more of<br />
national output. According to the trade, it has around 200 factories, some with more than 100 chain-making machines. The<br />
other significant centre is New Delhi/Meerut with around 50 factories.<br />
Most large retailers now tend to offer a wider variety of jewellery from these and many other fabrication centres. Other<br />
significant centres include Jaipur and Amritsar (north) and Hyderabad, Bangalore, Karwar, Nellore and Belgaum (south).<br />
Trade estimates of the amount fabricated in the 5 major centres vary greatly, but anecdotal evidence suggests that some<br />
centres may fabricate more than 50 tonnes annually.<br />
Indicative trade estimates put the workforce in New Delhi, Meerut and Kolkata at more than 100,000, in Mumbai at more<br />
than 200,000.<br />
The trade also observe that many goldsmiths, skilled in a traditional style, are relocating to fabrication centres around the<br />
country, notably from West Bengal.<br />
LARGER UNITS<br />
Since 1990, larger units fabricating handmade jewellery have emerged, but the number remains low<br />
nationwide.<br />
Conservative trade estimates put the number of large units employing more than 50 workers in New Delhi at around 50, in<br />
Coimbatore 30, and in Kolkata 20. In Mumbai, the number may be more than 100.<br />
The table below illustrates the tasks undertaken by 94 workers in a large fabrication unit in Coimbatore. The unit includes<br />
goldsmiths from West Bengal and Maharashtra.<br />
Category Number of workers<br />
Smelting and refining 2<br />
Die making 1<br />
Wire drawing 1<br />
<strong>Gold</strong>smiths 60<br />
Assistants to goldsmiths 20<br />
Quality check 2<br />
Polishing 2<br />
Cutting and engraving 4<br />
Packing 2<br />
Total workforce 94<br />
Photograph: B.C. Sen<br />
Fabricating handmade jewellery in Kolkata.<br />
<strong>Gold</strong>smiths from West Bangal – renowned as the best in India – work in other centres throughout the country.<br />
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIAN GOLD MARKET 103