Gold rush continues despite soaring prices

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| Jithendra Vummidi, partner, Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers, says: "Usually a rise in the price of gold is followed by a fall in the price. However, in the last six months the price of gold remained on the upswing. As a result, people have stopped waiting for the price to fall to buy gold, which was the case whenever there was a rise in the price. Moreover, as it is a wedding season, the customers cannot postpone buying of gold." |
| Vummidi added that more than 50 tonnes of gold worth Rs 400 crore is consumed by South Indians during the months of January and February, a wedding season. |
| He said that the four southern states - Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala, account for 40 per cent of gold consumption in the country. India consumes over 800 tonnes of gold per year. |
| Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers today announced that their diamond and diamond-studded jewellery has been certified as of the highest quality in diamonds by International Gemological Institute (IGI). Antwerp-based IGI is a leading gemstone and diamond certification institute that introduced the concept of certification for the last six years in India. It certifies India's popular jewellery brands. |
| The quality of diamond is based on cut, carat, clarity and colour. Tehmasp Printer, managing director, IGI India, said that India is a traditional market for gold jewellery though there is an increasing demand for diamonds as well. There is a lack of awareness among consumers about the quality of diamonds. |
| In order to help them identify authentic diamonds, the IGI certifies the diamonds available in the market, he added. |
First Published: Feb 02 2006 | 12:00 AM IST