Dhanteras Gold Buying: Would You Still Buy Jewellery If Rs 1 Lakh Got You Only Rs 88,000 of Gold? Physical Gold, Gold ETFs and Gold Mutual Funds Compared
- November 6, 2026
- Posted by: Chaitanya Auti
- Category: advisory
Jewellery: 3% GST on gold plus 5% on making charges (3% to 25%+). Gold ETFs: no making charges, long term after 12 months. Gold mutual funds: 24 months. Press reports, 6 Nov 2026.
Quick Answer
Dhanteras gold buying through jewellery can leave only about Rs 88,100 of gold for every Rs 1 lakh spent at a 10% making charge (my arithmetic), while gold ETFs and gold mutual funds have no making charges. Gold mutual funds, though, may not accept fresh money at many fund houses, so check first.
Dhanteras gold buying looks simple, but the route you pick changes how much gold your money actually buys. Physical jewellery, gold ETFs and gold mutual funds differ on making charges, GST, tax and exit, as press reports on 6 November 2026 show. This guide compares them in plain numbers, so you can match each route to your goal instead of buying on habit.
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Dhanteras Gold Buying: The Routes Compared
| Route | Making charges | GST | Storage | Long-term tax after | Often suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery | Reports range from about 3% to over 25%, depending on design | 3% on gold value plus 5% on making charges | You store it | 24 months | Wearing, gifting, tradition |
| Coins and bars | Lower premiums than jewellery, varies by seller | 3% on purchase value | You store it | 24 months | Simple gifting and holding |
| Gold ETFs | None | No GST on units; brokerage and expense ratio apply | Demat account | 12 months | Pure investment |
| Gold mutual funds (fund of funds) | None | Not charged on units | None | 24 months | Small monthly investing, if the scheme is open |
| Digital gold | Platform spread on buy and sell | Check the platform | Platform holds it | Depends on treatment | Very small amounts, with platform risk |
Long-term gains on most gold assets were taxed at a flat 12.5% in press reports this week, and short-term gains at your slab rate. Holding periods differ, with gold ETFs turning long term after 12 months and physical gold and gold mutual funds after 24 months. Tax rules change, so confirm the current rules or ask a tax adviser before Dhanteras gold buying and before planning an exit.
Dhanteras Gold Buying Maths: How Much Gold Does Rs 1 Lakh Really Buy?
| Dhanteras gold buying route | Assumption | Gold you get for Rs 1,00,000 (my arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|
| Jewellery | 10% making charge, 3% GST on gold and 5% GST on making | About Rs 88,100 of gold |
| Jewellery | 20% making charge, same GST | About Rs 80,600 of gold |
| Gold ETF | No making charge; brokerage and a yearly expense ratio of about 0.4% to 0.8% apply | Nearly all the money buys gold |
| Gold mutual funds | No making charge; the fund charges its own expenses | Nearly all the money buys gold, if the fund is open |
The jewellery rows for Dhanteras gold buying are illustrative, since actual making charges vary by jeweller and design. Resale makes the gap wider: a Bengaluru couple quoted in a Business Standard report lost most of the making charges when they sold bangles two years after a Dhanteras purchase. Outlook Money notes that jewellery usually resells at a discount.
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Gold Mutual Funds: The Catch Before You Buy
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| What they are | Gold mutual funds are usually fund-of-funds that invest in gold ETFs, so their value follows the gold ETF they hold |
| Fresh money | Zee Business and Whalesbook reported that many fund houses restricted fresh investments in gold fund-of-funds from October 2026 |
| Costs | A fund-of-fund adds its own expense on top of the underlying ETF’s expense ratio |
| Tax | Gold mutual funds turn long term after 24 months, per press reports |
| Convenience | No demat account is needed, which helps small monthly investors |
So the first step in gold mutual funds is checking whether the scheme accepts new investments or SIPs. If it does not, the same exposure is available through a gold ETF with a demat account. Compare the total expense of the fund with the ETF it holds before choosing.
What Experts Say About Dhanteras Gold Buying
| Expert | View |
|---|---|
| Roongta (Zee Business) | Physical gold carries emotional and traditional value that paper gold cannot replace, but gold ETFs avoid storage and purity worries |
| Buddhadev (Zee Business) | Recommends gold ETFs for investment, while people can still buy coins or silver utensils for tradition; notes ETFs avoid making charges and GST but have fund expenses |
| One expert quoted by Zee Business | Buy perhaps one gram of physical gold for the festival and take the rest of the allocation through ETFs |
| Outlook Money’s experts | About 10% to 15% in gold, with a larger share of fresh money to equities |
| Wealth experts in other reports | Cap gold at about 5% to 10% of the portfolio |
Experts differ on the exact share but agree that Dhanteras gold buying for tradition and Dhanteras gold buying for investment are two different decisions. Before adding more gold, check whether you already hold more than your target share.
The Twist Most Dhanteras Gold Buying Guides Miss
Gold is nearly 20% below its January peak, which has lifted festive buying sentiment, yet making charges are a percentage of the metal value and do not fall with the price. A lower gold price cuts the cost of a gram but leaves the percentage charge on jewellery unchanged, while gold ETFs and gold mutual funds carry no such charge. That is why the cost gap in Dhanteras gold buying between jewellery and gold ETFs or gold mutual funds remains even in a falling market. Our related guides cover the Dhanteras 2026 gold price view and the gold ETF price moves on 6 November.
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Which Dhanteras Gold Buying Route May Fit You
| If you want | Route that may fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A piece to wear or gift | Jewellery or a coin | You get something physical, and you accept making charges |
| A long-term investment | Gold ETF | No making charges and easy selling on the exchange |
| A small monthly plan without demat | Gold mutual funds, if open | SIPs in small amounts, with an extra layer of cost |
| Both tradition and investment | A small coin plus an ETF | Splits the festival purchase from the portfolio decision |
These are general fits, not personal advice. Your tax slab, horizon, goals and existing gold holding matter more than the festival date in any Dhanteras gold buying decision.
Conclusion
Dhanteras gold buying is not one decision but two: a purchase for tradition and an investment for your portfolio. Jewellery costs more through making charges and GST, gold ETFs are the low-friction investing route, and gold mutual funds suit small SIPs only if the scheme is open.
Disclaimer: Data and figures in this article are sourced from publicly available information. These may or may not be accurate. Please verify all data with the official NSE (nseindia.com) and BSE (bseindia.com) websites before making any investment decision. Investments in securities are subject to market risk. This content is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice by Univest (SEBI RA INH000013776).
Frequently Asked Questions on Dhanteras Gold Buying
What is the best Dhanteras gold buying option in 2026?
Ans. There is no single best option for Dhanteras gold buying. Jewellery suits tradition and wearing, while gold ETFs and gold mutual funds suit investing because they have no making charges. Univest cannot give personal advice, so match the route to your goal and consult a SEBI-registered adviser.
Are gold mutual funds open for new investment?
Ans. Press reports from Zee Business and Whalesbook said many fund houses restricted fresh money into gold fund-of-funds from October 2026. Check with the specific fund house before starting a SIP or lump sum.
What are making charges on gold jewellery?
Ans. Making charges pay for crafting the jewellery and are usually a percentage of the gold value. Reports quote ranges from about 3% to over 25%, depending on the design. They are generally not recovered on resale, and gold ETFs and gold mutual funds have none.
Is GST charged on gold ETFs?
Ans. Press reports say GST applies to physical gold at 3% on the metal value plus 5% on making charges, while gold ETF units are not charged GST. You still pay brokerage and the fund's expense ratio.
How are gold ETFs and gold mutual funds taxed?
Ans. Reports say gains on gold ETFs are long term after 12 months, while gold mutual funds and physical gold are long term after 24 months. The long-term rate was reported at 12.5%. Tax rules change, so verify the current rules.
How much of my portfolio should be in gold?
Ans. Experts quoted in the press give ranges from about 5% to 15%. The right share depends on your goals, age and risk tolerance, so review what you already hold before Dhanteras gold buying.
Is digital gold better than gold ETFs?
Ans. They differ. Digital gold allows very small purchases but has a buy-sell spread and depends on the platform's storage and redemption arrangements. Gold ETFs trade on the exchange with a regulated structure, but need a demat account.
Does a falling gold price cut the cost of jewellery?
Ans. The metal costs less per gram, but making charges are a percentage of that value, so the extra cost of jewellery over gold ETFs remains. Gold could also fall further, so many buyers split purchases over time.