Gold prices soared to record a record high this week amid global uncertainties — hitting the once-fabled Rs 1 lakh-mark for 10 grams. The safe-haven metal has seen prices jump by more than 100% over the last 2.5 years and currently remains an investor favourite. Social media users also pointed out that Indian women were now seeing their penchant for the metal pay rich dividends — even as other long-term purchases depreciated.
According to reports, the average annual price of 24 karat gold had been Rs 26,343.50 per 10 grams in 2015. Ten years later in 2025, the yellow metal has now surged past the Rs 1 lakh-mark for 10 grams. Spot gold prices crossed past the milestone on Tuesday amid buying rush by local jewellers and stockists in anticipation of increased demand during Akshaya Tritiya and the wedding season. It has since seen a slight decline and the gold rate stood at Rs 95,890 on Thursday.
Going by these numbers, an 10-year-old investment of Rs 4 lakh in gold jewellery would now stand around Rs 15 lakh or higher. The yellow metal has risen more than 25% in less than four months of 2025 and gained 42% over the last year — with a 10% return in April alone.
Meanwhile a car purchased for a similar amount in 2015 would have gradually seen its resale value dwindle to Rs 1 lakh or less. A vehicle such as the second-generation Maruti Alto K10 was sold with a starting ex-showroom price of Rs 3.06 lakh in early 2015. And while it is somewhat unfair to compare a car against gold jewellery, a quick search on car resale websites indicate that it will likely sell for a maximum of Rs 2 lakh (depending on various factors such as mileage, number of owners, current condition and more). In case you were wondering, Alto was chosen for this example because of its price-point and due to the fact that it is the only car in India to ever sell more than 5 million units)
“Never stop your wife from shopping,” joked several WhatsApp forwards this month while outlining a similar trajectory of investments.
RPG Enterprises’ Chairman Harsh Goenka appeared to agree on Wednesday — telling netizens that a car he had purchased for Rs 8 lakh had depreciated in value to Rs 1.5 lakh over the past 10 years. Meanwhile his wife has seen her jewellery investments soar during the past decade.
“10 yrs ago, I bought a car for ₹8 lakh. She bought gold for ₹8 lakh. Today- car’s worth ₹1.5 lakh. Her gold? ₹32 lakh,” Goenka marvelled.