You check the gold rate in Pakistan today, walk into a jewellery shop, and the bill comes out much higher than you expected. The difference is usually making charges — what Pakistanis call mazdoori — plus a few other extras that are not always explained clearly. Here is how it works, so you can ask the right questions.
What Are Making Charges?
Making charges are what the jeweller charges for turning raw gold into jewellery: designing, casting, cutting, polishing and setting. The gold itself is priced at the day’s rate — today Rs 396,000 per tola for 22K — and the making charge is added on top.
How Jewellers Charge
There are three common methods in Pakistan:
1. Fixed amount per tola
For example, Rs 8,000 to Rs 25,000 or more per tola, depending on the design. Simple chains have low making; detailed bridal sets have high making.
2. Percentage of the gold value
For example, 8% to 20% of the gold price. Machine-made pieces are at the lower end; handmade, detailed work is higher.
3. Fixed price for the whole piece
Some shops just quote one price for a ring or set. Always ask them to split it into gold weight × rate and making, so you can compare.
Typical Making Charges
| Type of jewellery | Typical making |
|---|---|
| Plain gold chains (machine) | Low |
| Rings and simple earrings | Low to medium |
| Bangles (kangan) | Medium |
| Bridal sets, kundan, polki | High |
| Antique or handmade designs | Highest |
Exact amounts vary by city, shop and design, so always ask before you buy.
The Hidden Costs
Wastage (“khot” or “wastage”)
Some jewellers add a percentage of extra gold weight to cover gold lost while making the piece. Ask whether wastage is included in the making charge or added separately.
Stones counted as gold
In some jewellery, the weight of stones, beads or lac (the filling inside hollow bangles) is included in the total weight and charged at the gold rate. Always ask for the net gold weight — the gold alone — on the receipt.
Lower karat than stated
A piece sold as 22K might actually be 21K. Ask for the karat to be written on the bill, and get an XRF test for big purchases. Our guide on how to check if gold is real explains this.
What Happens When You Sell: Katoti
This is the part most people do not expect. When you sell or exchange jewellery, the jeweller usually:
- Does not pay back the making charges you paid
- Deducts a percentage of the weight — called katoti — for melting and impurities
- Uses the buying rate, which can be a little lower than the selling rate
So a set you bought for Rs 1,000,000 might fetch noticeably less when sold soon after, even if the gold rate has not changed. This is why jewellery is not the best way to invest. Read more in our guide on selling old gold.
How to Pay Less
- Compare two or three shops. Making charges vary a lot for the same design.
- Ask for the bill to be split: gold weight, karat, rate, making, wastage, stones.
- Choose simpler designs for everyday gold. Save heavy making for special pieces.
- Ask about buy-back terms before buying. Some shops give better exchange deals to their own customers.
- Use a calculator. Our gold price calculator shows what the gold alone is worth, so you can see exactly how much you are paying for making.
A Quick Example
You buy a 22K necklace weighing 3 tola. The 22K rate is Rs 360,000 per tola and the making charge is 12%.
- Gold value: 3 × 360,000 = Rs 1,080,000
- Making (12%): Rs 129,600
- Total: Rs 1,209,600
If you sold it the next week with a 5% katoti and no making refund, you might get around Rs 1,026,000 — about Rs 183,600 less than you paid, even with the same gold rate.
Questions to Ask Before You Pay
- What is the net gold weight, without stones?
- What karat is it, and is that written on the bill?
- How is the making charge worked out — per tola or a percentage?
- Is there any wastage added separately?
- What will you deduct if I sell it back to you next year?
A trustworthy jeweller will answer all five clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mazdoori in gold?
Mazdoori is the making charge — the jeweller’s fee for crafting the jewellery, added on top of the gold price.
Do I get making charges back when I sell gold?
Usually not. Most jewellers pay only for the gold weight, minus a deduction.
Is there making charge on gold bars?
Very little or none, which is why bars are better for investment than jewellery.
Final Word
Making charges are fair payment for skilled work, but you should always know exactly what you are paying. Ask for a split bill, compare shops and check the live 22K gold rate before you buy.