Gold and Silver Guides
Plain-language guides on how gold prices work, buying and selling jewellery safely, purity, hallmarks and taxes. Written for buyers, not traders.
Gold prices
Gold pricesHow the Gold Rate in India Is DecidedThe world price, the rupee, import duty and local demand: the four things that make up the gold rate you see each morning in India.Gold pricesWhy the Gold Price Goes Up and DownWhat makes gold rise or fall: the US dollar, interest rates, world events, the rupee and wedding-season demand, explained simply.
Gold basics
Gold basics24K vs 22K vs 18K Gold: What Is the Difference?How much real gold is in 24, 22, 18 and 14 carat, what each one is used for, and how to work out the price of each from the 24K rate.Gold basicsGram, Pavan, Tola and Ounce: Gold Weight Units in IndiaHow many grams are in a pavan, a tola and a troy ounce, with a ready table and easy ways to convert between them.Gold basicsTesting Gold Purity: What Works and What Doesn'tWhy home tricks like the magnet or float test can't prove gold is real, and the tests that can: hallmark, karat meter and BIS centres.Gold basicsJewellery, Coins, Digital Gold and Gold ETFs: Ways to Own GoldA plain comparison of the common ways people in India own gold: the costs, how easy each is to sell, and who looks after it.
Buying gold
Buying goldBIS Hallmark and HUID: How to Check Your Gold Is RealWhat the three marks on hallmarked gold mean, how to check a HUID number on the BIS Care app, and what to do if something doesn't match.Buying goldMaking Charges and Wastage ExplainedWhy jewellery costs more than the gold rate, how shops charge for making and wastage, and simple ways to compare two shops fairly.Buying goldGST on Gold and Silver: How the Bill Is Worked OutHow 3% GST is added to gold and silver jewellery, coins and making charges, with a worked example of a real-looking bill.Buying gold10 Things to Check Before You Buy Gold JewelleryA simple checklist for the shop counter: rate, purity, hallmark, weight, stones, making charges, the bill and the buy-back policy.Buying goldPlanning Gold for a Wedding: A Simple Budget GuideHow to plan wedding jewellery in grams, spread purchases over months, keep making charges in check and avoid last-minute stress.Buying goldJewellery Shop Gold Savings Schemes: How They WorkHow monthly gold schemes at jewellery shops work, what the 'bonus' really is, and the questions to ask before you join one.