Alankar Jewellers, Udaipur · 4 min read
Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November this year, two days before Diwali. For most families in Udaipur it is the one day of the year when buying metal feels like a duty as much as a purchase. The question is not whether to buy, but what.
There is no single right answer. A gold coin, a pair of earrings and a silver diya all count. What matters is that you buy something you are happy with, at a fair price, with the purity you were promised. Here is a simple way to decide.
Dhanteras marks the first day of the Diwali festival and is linked with Dhanvantari and with Lakshmi. Bringing home gold, silver or a new utensil on this day is seen as inviting prosperity for the year ahead. Many families keep the piece aside for the Lakshmi puja on Diwali night.
If your aim is to save, a gold coin is the cleanest way to do it. Coins are usually 24kt (999) or 22kt (916), the making charge is small compared with jewellery, and they are easy to store and to sell or exchange later.
Lakshmi-Ganesh coins are the most popular design for Dhanteras. Plain coins tend to carry a slightly lower making charge. Either way, check that the coin is hallmarked and comes in sealed packaging with its weight and purity printed on it.
If you would rather buy something that gets worn, 22kt jewellery is the usual choice. Light chains, earrings, rings and bangles are popular because they can be worn straight away and through the wedding season. Look through our gold jewellery to get a feel for weights and styles before you come in.
Jewellery has a higher making charge than coins because of the work involved, so it is less efficient as pure savings. That is fine, as long as you know it going in. The value of a well-made piece you wear for twenty years is not only in its weight.
Silver is the traditional Dhanteras purchase in many homes, and it is a sensible one. Silver coins, a puja thali, diyas, a kalash, bowls or a glass are all popular. They are used in the Diwali puja and then for years after. See our silver collection.
For utensils and puja items, ask whether the piece is fine silver or 92.5 sterling silver, and check the weight on the bill. Silver articles can be hollow or filled, so weight matters more than size.
Some families prefer not to buy diamonds on Dhanteras and keep the day for gold and silver. Others are happy to. If you are buying a diamond piece this season, ask for the certificate and look at the stone in daylight. Our diamond jewellery page has a few everyday designs.
Our step-by-step hallmark guide shows exactly where to look.
The showroom at Hajareshwar Colony is open Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 8:30 pm, and on Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm, and the last few days before Dhanteras are the busiest of the year. Coming in a little earlier in the week gives you time to choose properly. For a quick overview of what we stock for the festival, see our Dhanteras gold and silver page, or call +91 96024 69867.
Visit Alankar Jewellers, Udaipur
See our gold, diamond, polki and kundan collections in person at our jewellery shop in Udaipur, 8th Street, Hajareshwar Colony. Open Mon–Sat 11 am – 8:30 pm, Sun 11 am – 7 pm.