Golden days ahead for jewellers

Big sales: A saleswoman picks gold necklaces to show to a customer at a jewellery showroom in Kochi. About 60% to 70% of India’s gold consumption is in the form of jewellery. — Reuters

MUMBAI: Wedding invites have been sent and the festival season is expected to be lively. That’s good news for India’s gold jewellers, as a reprieve in the pandemic means they can eye a recovery in their most lucrative sales period.

In the final quarter, Indians usually boost their purchases of gold ornaments for marriage celebrations, while sales of coins and bars for investment surge during a series of celebrations that culminates with Diwali, or the Festival of Lights that this year is being held in November.