Indian Gold Book:Indian Gold Book - Gold Bars Worldwide

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