SynopsisColoured gemstone jewellery is seeing a surge in popularity, with prices rising 20% year-on-year as affluent consumers favour these vibrant pieces over traditional gold and diamond items. This trend, driven by global influences and celebrity endorsements, has boosted demand by 30%, prompting jewellers to expand their inventories for the upcoming festive and wedding seasons.AgenciesColoured gemstones have turned about 20% costlier year-on-year as affluent consumers across the country are increasingly opting for gemstone-studded jewellery instead of plain gold and diamond pieces. The shift has prompted jewellers to build inventories ahead of the festive and wedding season, with demand surging about 30%, according to industry executives.The entry of brands such as Tanishq into the category has boosted demand for premium stones including Paraiba tourmaline and tsavorite, alongside rubies and emeralds, reviving business for Jaipur's nearly 10,000 gemstone cutting and polishing units. Most of these stones are imported from Africa, Brazil, Colombia, Sri Lanka and Madagascar."Younger buyers, influenced by global fashion trends and social media platforms, are increasingly opting for gemstones such as Paraiba tourmaline, tsavorite, tanzanite, morganite and sapphires," said Alok Sonkhiya, former president, Jewellers Association Jaipur. "Celebrity endorsements, influencer-led styling videos and viral jewellery trends have accelerated awareness of rare, coloured stones, prompting organised retailers to expand their offerings."Jewellers are also benefiting from the shift towards lighter 18-carat jewellery, a category where coloured gemstones help create aspirational yet relatively affordable luxury products for millennials and Gen Z consumers.Indian consumers are following the global trend. Globally, the coloured gemstones market is on an upward trajectory, projected to expand at a compound average growth rate of 11.3% to $5.7 billion by 2035 from about $1.9 billion in 2025.Tanishq recently entered the natural gemstones category with the launch of a new collection, Hues, featuring more than 200 designs. Stones such as amethyst, tourmaline and tanzanite along with traditional favourites such as ruby and emerald are being used in this range of jewellery, with 70% of the pieces priced below ₹2.5 lakh."For the upcoming 2026 festive and wedding season, we have increased our coloured gemstone jewellery inventory by nearly 30% compared to last year," said Raghav Dhir, director at Delhi-based Dhirsons Jewellers Dhiraj Dhir Group. "Apart from the ongoing trends of emeralds, rubies and sapphires, demand is also rising for tanzanites, tourmalines, aquamarines, morganites and semi-precious gemstones in bridal, cocktail and occasion jewellery in the Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) market."Coloured gemstone jewellery now accounts for nearly 40% of the portfolio of Mumbai-based Kumari Fine Jewellery, said its founder Supriya Kataria. "While rubies, emeralds and sapphires remain the mainstay, interest is increasingly shifting towards gemstones such as tourmaline, malachite and amethyst, particularly among younger buyers. We have expanded our inventory ahead of the festive and wedding season as demand for contemporary coloured gemstone jewellery continues to outpace traditional patterns," she said.Gold, silver prices fallPrices of the yellow metal fell on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) on Tuesday, ahead of fresh US-Iran talks. The MCX gold futures fell 1.3% or ₹1,824 to ₹1,38,630 per 10 grams, while the MCX silver futures declined 0.85% or ₹1,889 to ₹2,20,745 per kg.Read More News on...moreless