Gold Jewelry Price Calculator
Calculate the total cost of gold jewelry including making charges, wastage, tax, and stones
Common: 8-25% depending on design
Typical: 2-10%
Pure gold content: 9.17g
Effective price per gram (all-in): $142.70
Premium over gold value: 20.8%
Is this a fair price?
🟢 Making: {rate}% is fair (8-15%)
🟢 Wastage: {rate}% is reasonable (<5%)
🟢 {rate}% premium is FAIR
Typical making charges
Plain chain/bangle: 6-10%
Simple ring: 8-12%
Temple jewelry: 10-15%
Kundan/Polki: 15-25%
Antique finish: 12-18%
Machine-made: 3-8%
Handmade/filigree: 15-30%
Bridal set: 10-20%
Tax rates by country
🇮🇳 India: 3% GST
🇹🇷 Turkey: 18% KDV
🇦🇪 UAE: 5% VAT
🇸🇦 Saudi: 15% VAT
🇬🇧 UK: 20% VAT
🇩🇪 Germany: 19% MwSt
🇮🇩 Indonesia: 11% PPN
🇵🇰 Pakistan: 17% GST
Guide by Priya Venkataraman·Senior Gold Markets Analyst·Last updated April 2026How jewelers calculate gold jewelry price
Jewelers use: (Gold rate × weight × purity) + making charges + wastage + tax. Making covers craftsmanship. Wastage covers gold lost in manufacturing. Tax varies by country (3% GST in India, 18% KDV in Turkey, 5% VAT in UAE).
Understanding making charges
Making charges cover design and craftsmanship. Calculated as percentage (8-25%), fixed per gram, or flat fee. Hand-crafted and bridal pieces cost more. Making charges are NOT recoverable when selling.
What is wastage in gold jewelry?
Wastage is gold lost during manufacturing — filing, polishing, cutting. Jewelers charge 2-10%. Higher for complex designs. Always ask for itemized breakdown.
How to verify a fair price
Check today's gold rate. Compare making charges across 3+ jewelers. Verify weight on calibrated scale. Ask for itemized bill. If premium exceeds 30-40%, consider alternatives.
Buying vs selling jewelry
Buying: pay gold + making + wastage + tax. Selling: receive melt value minus 10-20% deduction. Making charges and tax are never recoverable. For investment, gold bars retain value better.
Frequently asked questions
How are making charges calculated?▾
As percentage of gold value (8-25%), fixed per gram, or flat fee. Depends on design complexity and jeweler.
What is a fair making charge?▾
Machine-made: 3-8%. Standard designs: 8-12%. Handcrafted: 12-20%. Above 20% should be for highly intricate work.
How much GST on gold jewelry in India?▾
3% GST on gold value + making charges. Government mandated, uniform across jewelers.
Can I recover making charges when selling?▾
No. Buyers pay only for gold content minus their deduction. Making, wastage, and tax are not recoverable.
What is wastage and why is it charged?▾
Gold lost during manufacturing. Jewelers charge 2-10%. Higher for complex designs with many joints.
How to know if the price is fair?▾
Check gold rate, compare making charges across jewelers, verify weight, ask for itemized bill.
Difference between making charges and wastage?▾
Making = labor/skill cost. Wastage = gold physically lost in manufacturing. Some bundle both together.
How is jewelry price different from gold bar?▾
Bars: 1-5% premium, no making/wastage. Jewelry: 20-50% over gold value with making, wastage, stones, tax.