Making charges are one of the most misunderstood and potentially costly aspects of buying gold jewellery in India. While the gold rate itself is nearly identical across jewellers for the same purity, making charges can vary enormously — from ₹150 per gram for plain machine-made chains to ₹2,000 per gram for elaborate handcrafted temple jewellery.
How Are Making Charges Calculated?
Making charges are applied in one of two ways. The first is a flat per-gram rate — for example, ₹400 per gram on a 10-gram necklace would add ₹4,000 to the bill. The second is a percentage of the gold value — for example, 12% on gold worth ₹1,41,000 would add ₹16,920. Percentage-based making charges are more common in premium and branded jewellery stores, while flat per-gram rates are more common in traditional local jewellers.
Why Do Making Charges Vary So Much?
The variation reflects genuine differences in craftsmanship. Machine-made chains require minimal labour. Filigree work, meenakari enamel, kundan setting, and temple jewellery require skilled artisans working for hours on a single piece. Beyond craftsmanship, branded jewellers often charge a premium for design exclusivity and brand trust. Use our making charges calculator to see how different making charge rates affect the total cost.
Tips for Negotiating
Making charges are almost always negotiable in traditional jewellery stores, especially on large purchases. Ask the jeweller to itemise the bill showing the gold weight, rate, making charges, and GST separately. Compare the making charge rate (not just the total price) across three or four jewellers before deciding. Off-peak season shopping — avoiding Diwali, Akshaya Tritiya, and wedding season — often yields better negotiation outcomes.