Imitation jewellery brings joy to needy women

By Samikshya Thapa,Lalitpur, July 14: As the price of gold continues to rise, imitation jewelry like gold-plated ornaments have become a popular alternative for those who don’t want to spend a hefty amount of money on price tags. The materials offer the appearance of luxury without financial burden.

Rani Shringar, an imitation jewelry shop at Bishal Bazaar, offers gold-plated jewelry like Rani Har and Mini Har in the price range of Rs. 1800-2600. They also provide a six-month warranty in the gold-plated ornaments.

According to Samjhana Sunuwar, an employee of the Rani Shringar, the price is affordable and if used carefully it can last up to 2-3 years. Gold-plated ornaments and gold ornaments look alike, the only difference in them is the price. 

Siddhi Ganesh Jewelers, an imitation shop at Bagbazar, Adwait Marg, offers gold-plated jewelry  like Maili Tilhari, Naugedi, Rani Har and Bala in the price range of Rs. 1500-3500. They also provide Rings, Lockets and Earrings in the price range of 200-500.

According to Sushila Poudel, an employee of the Siddhi Ganesh Jewelers, most of the people who come here sell their real gold, and then buy imitation gold to fill the emptiness it leaves behind.  

Big, heavy jewlery like Rani Har, Maili Tilhari are made of Pancha Dhatu and they  last up to 3-4 years. 

R. Ganesh Jewelers, an imitation jewelry shop near New Road gate, offers gold-plated jewelry  like Rani Har, Mini Har and Mangalsutra in the price range of Rs. 1000-3500 with a warranty of five  years.

According to Muna Dahal, an employee of the R. Ganesh Jewelers, people prefer gold-plated ornaments as they are  affordable and safer to use. You don’t have to worry about getting robbed while wearing them .

Anita Regmi, a shopper, said, “The price of gold has reached up to Rs. 2,00,000. Not everybody can afford to wear gold these days. At a time when the price of gold is unaffordable, imitation gold has become useful.

She added that the gold-plated ornaments have become the perfect alternative to fulfill women’s desire to wear gold. It has helped women to maintain their dignity as their appearance matters in festive functions. 

Keeping real gold at home comes with the fear of theft, so it has to be stored in a bank locker. But if it’s imitation gold, you can easily keep it at home without the fear of being robbed. And in case of an emergency, you don’t have to rush to the bank either.

According to the shopkeepers, the gold-plated ornaments must be worn with extra care because they  may lose their shine .  They should not come into contact with any kinds of chemicals like body spray, perfume or soap as that  may fade their colour .

Gold-plated ornaments are mostly preferred by married women. Youngsters prefer American Diamond and Brass jewelry as they  come in stylish designs that appeal to current fashion trends.  Their cost ranges from Rs. 2800-5000 and Rs. 4500-5000 respectively.  (Thapa is an Intern at TRN)