If you’re anything like me, walking into a jewellery store feels a bit like entering a candy shop everything sparkles, everything is beautiful, and you want it all!
But then, reality hits when you flip the price tag. You see the gold rate, and then you see this mysterious addition called "making charges" (or sometimes "wastage").
Suddenly, the math gets complicated.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds is a well-known brand when it comes to purchasing gold in India. They are famous for their "One India One Gold Rate" policy and their promise of transparency.
But what exactly are the Malabar gold making charges? Are they high? Are they fair? Moreover, how might you calculate them before you even visit the showroom?
What Exactly Are Making Charges?
Before we get into the specific numbers for Malabar making charges, let’s clear up the basics.
Think of making charges as the "labor cost" of your jewellery. Gold in its raw form is just a block of metal. To turn it into that intricate necklace or that delicate ring, a skilled artisan (karigar) spends hours, sometimes days, molding, cutting, and polishing it.
Making charges cover two things:
- Labor: The wages of the craftsman.
- Wastage: The tiny amount of gold lost during the cutting and polishing process.
In the industry, this is often expressed as a percentage of the current gold price. So, if the gold rate is ₹7,000 per gram and the making charges in Malabar are 15%, you pay an extra ₹1,050 per gram on top of the gold cost.
Why Choose Malabar Gold & Diamonds?
You might be wondering, "Why should I care specifically about making charges at Malabar Gold?"
Great question. The Indian jewellery market is flooded with options—Tanishq, Kalyan, Joyalukkas, and thousands of local family jewellers. However, Malabar stands out for a few reasons that directly impact your wallet:
- Fair Price Policy: Malabar has a strict policy to keep making charges reasonable. They don't arbitrarily inflate numbers.
- Transparency: Their billing is crystal clear. You can see the net weight, stone weight, and Malabar making charges on gold separately.
- One India One Gold Rate: While this applies to the gold rate, it reflects their ethos of uniformity and fairness, which often extends to their standardized making charges across regions.
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Malabar Gold Making Charges List
This is the section you came for. I’ve compiled detailed tables based on the latest market data to give you a clear picture of the Malabar gold making charges per gram and percentage.
Note: These percentages can fluctuate slightly based on the complexity of the design and prevailing gold rates, but they are accurate estimates for 2025-2026.
Overview by Jewellery Type of making changes
Different ornaments require different levels of skill. A simple chain is easier to make than an intricate bridal necklace. Here is the general range for gold-making charges in Malabar:
| Ornament Type | Malabar Gold Making Charges per gram |
| Gold Chains | 13% – 19% |
| Gold Bangles | 19% – 23% |
| Finger Rings | 17% – 26% |
| Pendants | 19% – 32% |
| Necklaces | 19% – 23% |
| Earrings | 17% – 19% |
| Mangalsutras | 17% – 21% |
| Bracelets | 13% – 20% |
| Nosepins | 20% – 24% |
As you can see, making charges for gold in Malabar are quite competitive. While some luxury brands start their charges at 20% or 25%, Malabar’s starting range of 13% for chains is very consumer-friendly.
Malabar Making Charges on Rings
Rings are one of the most popular purchases, especially for engagements and daily wear. However, the making charges for gold in Malabar for rings vary wildly depending on the style.
| Ring Style | Malabar Gold Making Charges per gram | Why? |
| Casual Rings | 10% – 26% | Simple designs have lower charges; fancy ones go higher. |
| Broad Rings | 16% – 20% | These use more gold but often have standard molds. |
| Bands | 17% – 23% | Popular for weddings; machinery helps lower the cost. |
| Cocktail Rings | 20% – 24% | Large, intricate, and often studded with stones. |
| Single Stone | 24% – 25% | Requires careful setting of the stone, increasing labor. |
If you are looking for a "steal deal," keep an eye out for casual rings. Some specific designs in the casual category can have Malabar jewelers making charges as low as 10%!
Malabar Making Charges on Chains
Chains are a staple in every Indian household. Whether it's a daily wear chain or a heavy one for a wedding, the making charges of Malabar Gold here are some of the lowest in the industry.
| Chain Style | Making Charge Estimate |
| Machine-Made Chains | 13% – 19% |
| Fancy/Handmade Chains | ~15% – 20% |
Pro Tip: If you want to invest in gold that you can wear, buy a simple machine-made chain. The making charges in Malabar for these are minimal, meaning you lose less money if you ever decide to exchange or sell it later.
Malabar Gold Coin Making Charges
This is where Malabar truly shines. If you are buying gold purely for investment, do not buy jewellery. Buy gold coins.
Why? Because jewellery has high making charges (15-25%), whereas gold coins have very low, fixed making charges. Here is the table for Malabar gold making charges on coins:
| Coin Weight | Making Charge + Delivery (Approx) | Equivalent % (Approx) |
| 0.5 gram | ₹300 | ~7-9% |
| 1 gram | ₹350 | ~5-6% |
| 2 grams | ₹400 | ~3-4% |
| 5 grams | ₹500 | 1.50% |
| 8 grams | ₹650 | 1.20% |
| 10 grams | ₹800 | 1.00% |
| 20 grams | ₹1,100 | 0.80% |
| 50 grams | ₹2,100 | 0.60% |
| 100 grams | ₹3,000 | 0.40% |
Note: These are fixed charges generally observed. The percentage decreases drastically as the weight increases.
If you buy a 10 g coin, you are paying only about 1% in making charges! Compare that to the 19% you might pay for a 10 g bangle. That is a massive saving.
Learn how to calculate gold making charges.
Comparison: Malabar vs. Other Jewellers
To understand if the Malabar making charges are actually good, we need to look at the competition. I’ve analyzed the general market trends for 2025 to give you a quick comparison.
| Jeweller | Gold Chain Making Charges | Bangle Making Charges | Ring Making Charges |
| Malabar Gold | 13% – 19% | 19% – 23% | 17% – 26% |
| Tanishq | 9% – 25% | 16% – 25% | 19% – 23% |
| Kalyan Jewellers | 19% – 36% | 28% – 37% | 7% – 32% |
| Joyalukkas | 22% – 59% | 23% – 31% | 7% – 60% |
| GRT Jewellers | 15% – 19% | 15% – 20% | 15% – 17% |
How to Calculate the Final Price of Gold in Malabar
Many people get confused about how the final bill is totaled. Let's break down the formula so you can calculate the Malabar making charges on gold yourself.
The Formula:
Final Price = (Price of Gold x Weight) + Making Charges + GST
A Practical Example:
Let's say you want to buy a 10-gram gold chain from Malabar.
- Current Gold Rate: ₹14,415 per gram (22K)
- Making Charge: 15% (Estimated average for a chain)
- GST: 3% (Standard on Gold & Making Charges)
Step 1: Calculate Gold Cost 10 grams × ₹14,415 = ₹1,44,150
Step 2: Calculate Making Charges (15%) 15% of ₹1,44,150 = ₹21,622.50
Step 3: Subtotal (Gold + Making Charges) ₹1,44,150 + ₹21,622.50 = ₹1,65,772.50
Step 4: Calculate GST (3%) 3% of ₹1,65,772.50 = ₹4,973.18
Total Price You Pay: ₹1,70,746
With the rate at ₹14,415 per gram, for a standard 10 g chain, you are paying approximately ₹26,596 just in making charges and GST combined (₹21,622 + ₹4,973).
This highlights why negotiating the making charge percentage becomes even more critical when the gold rate is this high.
See Kalyan Jewellers’ making charges explained; read the full breakdown.
Hidden Costs & Things to Watch Out For
As someone who always reads the fine print, I have to warn you about a few things. Even with a transparent brand like Malabar, you should be aware of:
1. Stone Charges
If you buy "studded jewellery" (gold with rubies, emeralds, or cubic zirconia), the making charges in Malabar might look different.
- The Trap: Sometimes, local jewellers weigh the stones with the gold and charge you the gold rate for the stones.
- The Malabar Way: Malabar usually deducts the stone weight and charges for gold separately. However, the making charges on studded jewellery are generally higher (often 20%+) because setting stones requires more labor.
2. Hallmarking Charges
This is a negligible cost but it exists. You might see a small fee (approx. ₹45 per piece) for BIS hallmarking. This guarantees the purity of your gold.
3. Wastage vs. Making Charges
In the past, these were separate. You would pay for "wastage" (gold lost) AND "making charges" (labor). Nowadays, most big brands like Malabar combine them into a single percentage under "Value Addition" or "Making Charges." If you see both listed separately on a bill, ask why!
Learn about Tanishq making charges for rings and coins.
How to Save Money on Malabar Making Charges
Who doesn't love a discount? Here are my top tips to lower the Malabar gold making charges per gram:
1. The "Steal Deals"
Malabar often has a section on their website or in-store for products with slashed making charges. I’ve seen rings with 10% making charges and chains with flat discounts. Always ask the salesperson, "Do you have any designs with low making charges?"
2. Gold Purchase Schemes
Malabar has schemes like the "Golden Gain Plan" or "Golden Glow." You pay a monthly installment for 11 months, and they pay the 12th installment or offer huge discounts on making charges (sometimes up to 50% off or flat waivers). If you are planning a wedding next year, start this NOW.
3. Seasonal Offers
During Akshaya Tritiya, Dhanteras, and Diwali, Malabar almost always runs a "Flat X% off on Making Charges" campaign. This can range from 10% to 50% off. Timing your purchase can save you thousands.
4. Buy Plain Gold
As we saw in the tables, plain gold bangles and chains have the lowest Malabar making charges. Antique, temple, or uncut diamond (Polki) jewellery will always cost more in labor.
Discover the countries with the cheapest gold prices worldwide.
The malabar gold making charges are fair, transparent, and competitive. While you might find a local shop offering slightly lower rates, you miss out on the guarantee of purity, the transparency of billing, and the vast collection of designs that Malabar offers.
Buying gold is an emotional and financial investment. You don't want to save ₹500 on making charges only to realize later that the purity was compromised or the stone weight was added to the gold.
Disclaimer: Gold rates and making charges are subject to market fluctuations and company policies. The figures mentioned above are estimates based on current market trends and reference blogs. Always confirm the exact charges at the showroom before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does Malabar Gold charge for stones at the gold rate?
No, Malabar is known for transparency. They usually calculate the Net Gold Weight (Total Weight minus Stone Weight) and apply the gold rate to that. The stones are charged separately.
2. What are the making charges for gold coins in Malabar?
They are fixed based on weight. A 1-gram coin has a charge of around ₹350, while a 10-gram coin is around ₹800.
3. Can I negotiate making charges at Malabar?
It is difficult to negotiate at big chain stores because their system is computerized. However, you can ask for ongoing offers, or if you are making a very large purchase (like a wedding set), the manager might have the discretion to offer a discount on the making charges of Malabar gold.
4. Is the making charge refundable if I return the jewellery?
No. Making charges go towards the labor of the artisan. Once the piece is made, that labor is "spent." If you exchange or return the item, you will get the value of the gold (usually 100% at Malabar if exchanged), but you lose the making charges and GST. This is why low making charges (like on coins) are better for investment.
5. How do Malabar's charges compare to local jewellers?
Local jewellers might offer you "8% making charges," but you must check their gold rate. Often, they quote a higher per-gram gold rate to offset the low making charges. Malabar uses the standard One India One Gold Rate, so their 15% might actually be cheaper than a local jeweller's 8% if the base rate is lower.
