Indian Gold Book:Indian Gold Book - Gold Bars Worldwide

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