One-gram gold jewellery is a base-metal piece, usually brass or copper, covered with a layer of real gold that is thicker than ordinary fashion plating. The name is a trade label in India, and it does not mean that each piece contains exactly one gram of gold.
It sits between ordinary gold-plated imitation jewellery and real gold. It looks closer to traditional Indian gold, and it is popular with buyers who want a bridal or festive look at a fraction of the price of gold.
How it is made
Makers use heavier gold plating or micro gold plating, sometimes with several layers, to build up the gold coat. Designs usually follow traditional gold jewellery: temple pieces, Lakshmi coin necklaces, bangles and chains. Rajkot workshops make it, alongside other centres in India.
Because the term is not regulated, the actual gold content varies widely from one workshop to the next. Two pieces sold as one-gram gold can differ a lot in thickness and durability.
What to check before you buy
- Thickness: ask for the plating thickness in microns and confirm it with an XRF reading on a sample.
- Karat: ask what karat the gold layer is. Colour depends on it.
- Base metal: brass or copper is normal. Ask whether there is a nickel layer if you sell in Europe.
- Top coat: ask whether an anti-tarnish lacquer is applied, since it changes how the piece wears.
- Weight: record the piece weight on the order so you can spot a lighter, cheaper version later.
How to sell it abroad
Outside India the phrase "one-gram gold" can mislead customers, who may read it as solid gold. In most export markets it is safer to describe it as gold-plated brass with a stated thickness, and to explain that it is not solid gold. Some markets have specific rules on how plated items may be described.
Diaspora shoppers often know the term and search for it, so it can sit in a product description as long as the main claim is accurate.
What this means for a buyer
Buy one-gram gold on a written thickness and karat, not on the name. See how Rajkot makers price jewellery to understand where the gold cost sits.
Creston & Co works for buyers only, for a fixed fee agreed in writing. We check gold thickness on samples and the bulk lot in Rajkot and supervise packing. Ask for a free sourcing review.