Dhanteras falls on Friday, November 6, 2026. If you are shopping for gold or silver, ask for the final price of the piece you intend to buy, with its purity, metal weight and fees shown separately. A bullion rate can help you check the metal component, while the retailer’s itemized quote tells you what you will actually pay. Start both comparisons before visiting several shops, because prices and promotional terms can change during the day. Dhanteras 2026 date reference
Compare the same gold or silver price at each shop
Write down the date and time, price unit and purity for each quote. A gold quote for ten grams cannot be compared directly with a price for one gram. A silver rate quoted per kilogram needs to be divided by one thousand to find the rate per gram. Ask whether the number is a bullion reference, a retail metal rate, or the all-in price of a particular product. The India Bullion and Jewellers Association publishes indicative retail gold jewellery rates by purity and is a useful reference alongside local quotes. India Bullion and Jewellers Association
When comparing two gold chains, use the same purity and check the net gold weight. A pendant with stones can weigh more on a scale while containing less metal than a simpler piece. Ask the shop to show you the weight it multiplied by the metal rate. Then list the stones, labour and other charges separately. In particular, ask which amount a percentage-based making charge applies to. Two stores can advertise the same percentage and calculate it on different bases.
Read the hallmark and match it to the article
For eligible hallmarked gold jewellery, look for the BIS mark, the purity indication and the six-character alphanumeric hallmark unique identification number, or HUID. A common example is 22K916, where 916 represents a fineness grade. The BIS Care app can be used to check a HUID. Compare the result with the item in front of you and raise any mismatch before paying. Keep the invoice so that you can identify the item later.
Silver jewellery and articles use their own standard. BIS introduced HUID-based hallmarking under IS 2112:2025 on a voluntary basis from September 1, 2025. The BIS material describes a silver mark, fineness grade and identifying code. For a silver purchase, ask the retailer what marks or documentation apply to the specific article. A plated item and a sterling silver item can look similar in a display case and have very different metal content. BIS guidance on gold and silver hallmarking
Build an all-in comparison before you pay
Imagine that two shops quote a metal value of ₹50,000 for comparable items. One quotes ₹4,000 for making and the other ₹3,000 plus a ₹1,500 stone charge. Before tax, the totals are ₹54,000 and ₹54,500. The second piece has the lower making charge and the higher price. The numbers are illustrative, and the same exercise works for percentage charges if you first calculate them in rupees.
Ask for applicable tax to appear separately and request the final payable total before approving payment. For advance bookings, find out which amount is fixed, when the quote expires, and what happens if the price changes before collection. A deposit might secure a specific item without locking the day’s metal rate. Get the deposit, cancellation and refund terms on the same written record.
Compare buyback and exchange terms
Ask how the shop would value the item if you brought it back later. Find out whether the offer is cash or store credit, how stones are treated, what testing fees or deductions apply, and whether the original invoice is required. For coins or bars, request written product specifications and check whether opening sealed packaging changes resale terms. A gift, a piece of jewellery and a bullion purchase can have very different priorities.
At checkout, verify the merchant name and amount in your payment app and save the transaction reference. A retailer who needs to match the payment to the invoice can use that reference to look it up. How merchants reconcile UPI payments
If a seller advertises a festival discount, ask which line it reduces. A making-charge discount might leave the metal price and every other fee unchanged.
Frequently asked questions
What is the gold rate for Dhanteras 2026?
Use a dated bullion benchmark and request an itemized quote in your city. Purity, local pricing, product premiums and charges can change what you pay for the finished article.
Is the item’s total weight the weight I should price?
Ask for the net precious-metal weight. A jewellery item may include stones or other material that should be listed separately on the bill.
What should I keep after buying?
Keep the itemized invoice, payment record and any written buyback or certification terms. If the retailer offers a booking or exchange benefit, save the document describing it as well.
