Gold vs Silver vs Diamonds in Focus This Akshaya Tritiya 2026: What Are Buyers Looking At?

Every year, as Akshaya Tritiya approaches, millions of Indian households head to their nearest jewellery store. This year, Akshaya Tritiya falls on Sunday, April 19 and the queues are expected to be longer than ever. But as gold crosses Rs. 1.52 lakh per 10 grams, silver surges past Rs. 2.41 lakh per kilogram, and diamond jewellery shines on the shelves it is confusing which of these three is actually worth your money? Let's find out.

Gold

In 2001, 10 grams of 24-karat gold in India cost approximately Rs. 4,300. As of April 2026, that same 10 grams will set you back Rs. 1,52,000. That is a 34x return over 25 years without doing a single thing except holding the metal. For long-term investors, gold has delivered approximately 19.2% CAGR over the past decade in India comfortably beating fixed deposits, most debt instruments, and even several equity mutual fund categories over the same period.

What makes gold special as an asset is, Gold is priced transparently on global exchanges. You can sell it anywhere in the world, at any time, and receive near its spot price. You can pledge it at any bank or NBFC and unlock liquidity within hours. No other physical asset in India offers this liquidity.

How to Buy Gold Smartly

Physical jewellery: the most common & Culturally appropriate but making charges which is around 10- 25% and 3% GST added to the prices which reduces the overall value.

Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs): This is a very good option as it involves no making charges, no storage cost, plus a 2.5% annual interest yield on top of capital appreciation. Ideal for a 5-8 year horizon. Tax-efficient if held to maturity.

Gold ETFs: Perfect for traders and those who want liquidity without physical storage. Tracks spot price closely. Expense ratio typically under 0.5%.

Digital Gold: Convenient for small, regular purchases. Check the platform's storage and buyback terms carefully before investing.

Silver

Silver has been the star performer in just a span of six months. The numbers from the past year are genuinely extraordinary. Last year on Akshaya Tritiya 2025 silver was trading at approximately Rs. 97,000 per kilogram. As of April 2026, it stands at Rs. 2,41,000 per kg after briefly touching highs near ₹4.15 lakh earlier this year. That is a 2.5x return in exactly 12 months.

Silver is not for everyone. If you have a 5-year-plus investment horizon, a high tolerance for intraday swings of 3-7%, silver offers compelling upside. Silver ETFs listed on Indian exchanges are the cleanest way to access this trade without worrying about storage of physical silver..

Diamonds

Diamonds may be among the most aspirational purchases during Akshaya Tritiya, but they remain an emotional choice rather than a financial investment. Since gold prices are rising sharply making traditional jewellery purchase further out of reach, many consumers are now shifting toward diamonds, especially lab-grown alternatives for perceived value.

"As gold prices hover at historic highs, effectively increasing the entry barrier for traditional jewelry, we are seeing a strategic migration toward Lab-Grown Diamonds (LGDs). This Akshaya Tritiya, the 'value-per-carat' proposition is the primary growth driver. While gold has traditionally been a hedge against inflation, LGDs are emerging as a 'utility luxury' where consumers can access up to 3x the carat size for the same capital outlay compared to mined stones. At Solitario, our data suggests a 40% uptick in first-time diamond buyers who are prioritizing the CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) technology for its purity and sustainability. We aren't just seeing a seasonal spike; we are witnessing a permanent shift in the Indian consumer's psychology from 'weight-based' buying to 'brilliance-based' investing," said Anurag Lunia, COO, Solitario.

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