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India's Jewellery Leasing Shifts: Large Experience Stores Now 50% of Market

India's retail jewellery leasing has shifted dramatically, with large-format, experience-led stores now accounting for 50% of leasing in 2025, up from 14% in 2019. Brands are moving from small outlets to 8,000+ sq. ft. showrooms featuring VIP lounges and augmented reality try-ons. The jewellery sector's share of total organised retail leasing has grown from 2% to 8%, making it a top three demand driver. Fine jewellery remains dominant at 72%, but Lab-Grown Diamond brands are gaining ground, rising from 5% to 8% of leasing.

Key Points: Large-Format Stores Drive 50% of India's Jewellery Leasing

  • Large-format stores now 50% of jewellery leasing, up from 14% in 2019
  • Jewellery sector's retail leasing share rose from 2% to 8% since 2019
  • Brands transition to 8,000+ sq. ft. experience centres with VIP lounges and AR try-ons
  • Fine jewellery dominates at 72% of leasing, but Lab-Grown Diamond share is rising
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Large‑format, experience‑led stores account for 50 pc of India's jewellery leasing

India's jewellery leasing sees a major shift: large-format, experience-led stores now account for 50% of the market, up from 14% in 2019, signaling a new retail era.

"The rapid expansion of large-format, experience-led stores signals a structural shift that is reshaping how brands engage with consumers - Anshuman Magazine"

New Delhi, May 14

India's retail jewellery leasing has moved sharply toward large‑format stores, which accounted for 50 per cent of leasing in 2025 sharply higher than 14 per cent in 2019, a report said on Thursday.

The report from CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd said the large shift indicated a repositioning of jewellery from a product-based transaction to an experience-led retail category.

Leading brands are transitioning from smaller 1,500-2,500 sq. ft. outlets to 8,000+ sq. ft. showrooms that serve as "experience centres" with private VIP bridal lounges, augmented‑reality virtual try‑on zones, gallery spaces for high‑value collections and personalised consultation rooms.

New market entrants and regional players in tier-II and tier-III cities are also leasing 8,000+ sq. ft. spaces, matching the scale of established national legacy flagships.

"The rapid expansion of large-format, experience-led stores signals a structural shift that is reshaping how brands engage with consumers and how developers design their tenant mix," said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa, CBRE.

"Jewellery is emerging as the definitive premium anchor, delivering strong revenue performance, enhancing destination stature, attracting affluent shoppers, and strengthening long-term asset value," he added.

The report also noted that the sector's share in total organised retail leasing has risen from 2 per cent in 2019 to 8 per cent in 2025, placing jewellery among the top three demand drivers in India's retail market, after fashion & apparel and F&B.

Absorption by jewellery brands doubled from 0.4 million sq. ft in 2024 to 0.8 million sq. ft in 2025, with Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR collectively accounting for the majority of that demand.

The report also highlighted the growing emergence of dedicated jewellery precincts within large malls in the country.

Developers are proactively curating specialised jewellery zones by providing reinforced vaults and high-density specialised lighting, to accommodate the unique technical and operational requirements of jewellery retail.

Fine Jewellery continued to dominate at 72 per cent of leasing in 2025, but the share of leasing by Lab-Grown Diamond (LGD) brands rose from 5 per cent in 2024 to 8 per cent in 2025, reflecting a broader shift in consumer preferences.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a smart move by jewellery brands. Indian weddings are all about the experience, and having dedicated bridal lounges with personalised consultations will make buying jewellery more special. Plus, more jobs in tier-II cities! 🎉
M
Michael C
Interesting data. I'm curious how this shift affects small, local jewellers who can't afford 8,000 sq. ft spaces. They've been the backbone of Indian jewellery for generations. Hope they don't get squeezed out by these big experience stores.
K
Kavya N
Lab-grown diamonds gaining share—about time! They're more affordable and ethical. These experience stores with AR try-ons are perfect for LGD because you can compare clarity and colour virtually. But 8% is still low; hopefully, it grows faster as awareness increases.
R
Rohit P
I appreciate the premium touch, but what about security and privacy? These big showrooms with VIP lounges are great, but they need proper CCTV and secure vaults. Also, hope the staff are well-trained—jewellery buying is an emotional purchase for many.
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Siddharth J
The rise of jewellery as a top demand driver in retail is huge. It's not just about buying gold or diamonds anymore; it's about the whole experience. Bengaluru and Hyderabad leading makes sense—lots of young professionals there with disposable income. Good for the economy!

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