The story
Thrissur's goldsmiths have long supplied jewellery for Kerala's weddings and temple festivals. From the 1970s many small manufacturing units grew around the city, making ornaments on job-work for jewellers across Kerala and beyond. Several of India's large jewellery retail chains began in Thrissur. The city now combines artisan workshops, wholesale dealers and big showrooms.
In numbers
In a 2024 operation, Kerala GST officials found billing and taxation irregularities among Thrissur jewellers and seized about 100 kg of gold.
GST department launches biggest ops in Kerala, seizes 100 kg gold from Thrissur jewellers — South First · 2024
Ways in for a newcomer
- Job-work manufacturing for retail chains
- Hallmarking, assaying and CAD/CAM jewellery design services
- Light-weight and lab-grown diamond jewellery lines
- Training institutes for goldsmiths
Problems the cluster faces
- Gold price swings and working-capital needs
- Tax compliance scrutiny
- Machine-made jewellery from other states
- Ageing artisans and migrant labour
Businesses to start here
Handicraft Jewellery Unit →Gold Plating of Optical Frames and Jewellery (Job Work) →Artificial Jewellery Shop →