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 />
SMALLER UNITS<br />
The trade has difficulty estimating the number of smaller units in their cities, but generally observe that there<br />
may be several thousand medium size units with 20 - 40 workers nationwide.<br />
However, the bulk of handmade jewellery is fabricated by thousands of small units with less than 20 workers.<br />
Most of these small units are reported to have less than 5 workers, often the members of a single family.<br />
A striking feature of all handmade fabrication units is that they each tend to service a very small number of clients. Even<br />
large units with more than 50 workers may supply less than 10 retailers and wholesalers, in some cases only one.<br />
OUTPUT CAPACITY<br />
Handmade jewellery<br />
Trade estimates of a goldsmith’s capacity vary greatly, from less than 5 g to more than 20 g of carat jewellery daily.<br />
Daily output varies according to demand, the skill of the goldsmith, the size and complexity of the piece, the number of<br />
similar pieces being made at the same time, and whether it is fabricated in an “organised”, as opposed to a small family,<br />
unit.<br />
A typical capacity is described as 10 g of carat jewellery per day.<br />
For example, a standard 10 g bangle, or a pair of 6 g earrings, would take about a day to make, a standard 20 g necklace<br />
about 2 days. Complicated pieces might take 2 or 3 times as long. Some pieces might take a week or more.<br />
Fabrication of a single piece often involves the participation of several workers with specialised skills and tasks, sometimes<br />
operating outside the unit. The average output per worker would often be less than 10 g.<br />
Machine-made jewellery<br />
One large chain-maker in Mumbai indicated that the daily output of a single machine could range from 300 g of thin chain<br />
up to 4 kg of thick chain.<br />
TRADE OBSERVATIONS<br />
Designs<br />
Fabricators are under increasing pressure from retailers to provide jewellery with innovative designs. Many large units (and<br />
retailers) now employ their own in-house designers.<br />
Quality<br />
Larger retailers are now demanding an even higher standard of workmanship and finish.<br />
Training<br />
Large and medium size units emphasise their need for support: more technical information and more opportunities to attend<br />
technical workshops and seminars.<br />
Low income<br />
<strong>Gold</strong>smiths observe that, although they are so important to the gold jewellery market, their income does not reflect their<br />
technical and design skills. Many advise that they are earning less in real terms than 5 years ago.<br />
Future<br />
There appears to be a surplus of goldsmiths, the outcome of limited growth in the gold jewellery market since 1998. In the<br />
1990s, many youngsters were encouraged to enter the industry.<br />
104<br />
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INDIAN GOLD MARKET