Gold Jewellery Price Calculator
Calculate the fair market price of jewellery by adding making charges (labor) and tax to the real-time gold value.
Price Breakdown
Understanding Jewellery Pricing
What are Making Charges?
Making charges (or "wastage charges") are the fees paid to the goldsmith for the labor involved in designing and crafting the piece. Intricate designs like antique or temple jewellery have higher making charges (15-25%) compared to simple chains or bands (8-12%).
How is Tax Calculated?
Tax is usually applied to the final bill value (Gold Cost + Making Charges). For example, in India, a 3% GST is applied to the total. In the US, sales tax varies by state.
22K vs 24K for Jewellery
24K gold (99.9%) is too soft for intricate jewellery and will deform easily. Most jewellery is made from 22K (91.6% gold + copper/silver/zinc) or 18K (75% gold) to ensure durability and hold stone settings securely.
Negotiation Tip
You cannot negotiate the gold rate, but you can negotiate making charges. Jewellers often have a margin of 5-10% in the making charges that they can discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making charges (often called "wastage") encompass the cost of labor, design, and manufacturing overheads involved in creating a piece of jewellery. Simple chains might charge 8-12%, while intricate temple jewellery or studded pieces can range from 18% to 25% or more.
No. While the Gold Rate (Spot Price) is global, the final retail price varies significantly by shop due to differences in Making Charges, brand premiums, and local taxes. Always compare the "final price per gram" across different jewelers.
No. When you sell or exchange old jewellery, jewellers will only pay for the net weight of gold. The making charges (labor) and taxes you paid during purchase are a sunk cost and are not refundable.
Hallmark (BIS 916) guarantees the purity of gold (22K) through laser engraving. KDM (Cadmium) was an old soldering technique that often resulted in lower purity (around 20-21K) and is now banned in many places due to health risks. Always insist on Hallmarked jewellery.