Women Support Net-Weight Gold Jewellery Sales: A Step Towards Greater Transparency and Consumer Confidence

A number of women, including consumers, designers, and media professionals, have voiced strong support for selling gold jewellery based on its net gold weight while disclosing the weight of any mounted stones separately. They believe the approach represents a significant shift in the Egyptian gold market, enhancing transparency, restoring consumer confidence, and encouraging more buyers to purchase gemstone-set jewellery after years of uncertainty surrounding resale policies.

Hana Ibrahim, a graphic designer, said she had always avoided buying gemstone-set jewellery, not only because she prefers plain gold designs but also because of the uncertainty surrounding buyback policies. She explained that many consumers repeatedly ask jewellers whether gemstones will be included or excluded when reselling their jewellery. According to Ibrahim, clearly disclosing the weight of the stones and pricing jewellery based on its net gold weight would eliminate much of this uncertainty, giving consumers greater confidence and encouraging them to explore a wider range of gemstone-set pieces.

Dr. Fidaa Mansour Al-Jawhari believes the new pricing model reflects a deeper understanding of consumer behaviour in the Arab market, where buyers have become increasingly conscious of the investment value of their purchases. She noted that gemstones are manufactured products rather than investment metals, making it economically sound to include their value within manufacturing costs rather than treating them as part of the gold's weight. She added that the initiative's success will depend on maintaining reasonable manufacturing charges that accurately reflect the actual cost of the stones without excessive markups.

Broadcaster Dr. Reinal Oweida of Sada El Balad TV said she had traditionally chosen jewellery containing only a small proportion of stones because she was concerned they might become damaged or lose value when resold. In her view, selling jewellery according to its net gold weight while separately declaring the weight of the stones offers greater transparency and lowers the purchase cost, since gemstones are worth considerably less per gram than gold. She also pointed out that the market has long relied on informal promises regarding buyback policies rather than legally binding standards, resulting in inconsistent practices among jewellers.

Jewellery designer Heba Mokalled described the exclusion of gemstone weight from gold pricing as a positive development that could help revive demand for jewellery, particularly after many consumers shifted towards purchasing low-premium gold bars as a savings vehicle over the past two years. She said the decline in jewellery sales has negatively affected craftsmen and jewellery manufacturers, while the new pricing model would reduce costs for consumers and make jewellery more attractive for personal adornment rather than solely as an investment. Mokalled also noted that high manufacturing charges have been a major factor discouraging consumers from buying jewellery because much of those costs are lost upon resale, making the new model fairer for both buyers and retailers.

Jewellery designer Mai El Hady recalled that some companies used to include gemstone weight when selling jewellery and honoured the same calculation when buying it back, but this practice was far from universal. When she attempted to resell her own jewellery, she encountered varying policies, with some jewellers accepting the stones while others required them to be removed. She believes that pricing jewellery based solely on its net gold weight, while valuing gemstones separately, is the fairest and most transparent solution for consumers because it establishes clear and consistent standards for everyone involved.

Collectively, these opinions suggest growing support among both consumers and industry professionals for adopting a net-weight pricing model. Supporters argue that separating gemstone weight from gold weight will improve transparency, reduce disputes during resale transactions, rebuild consumer confidence, and ultimately stimulate demand for gemstone-set jewellery while supporting Egypt's jewellery manufacturing industry.