Silver gifts and what they cost today
Silver is the traditional gift for a new baby in many Indian families: a glass or a bowl and spoon for the first feed, a kada or payal for the wrists and ankles, or a coin for the naming ceremony. Each is priced by weight.
| Gift | Usual weight | Price today |
|---|---|---|
| Silver glass (tumbler) | 40 to 80 g | ₹8,984 to ₹17,969 |
| Bowl and spoon set | 50 to 100 g | ₹11,231 to ₹22,461 |
| Kada, a pair | 10 to 20 g | ₹2,246 to ₹4,492 |
| Payal (anklets), a pair | 10 to 25 g | ₹2,246 to ₹5,615 |
| Rattle (jhunjhuna) | 20 to 40 g | ₹4,492 to ₹8,984 |
| Feeding set: plate, bowl, glass, spoon | 150 to 300 g | ₹33,692 to ₹67,383 |
| Silver coin, 999 | 10 g | ₹2,238 |
Utensils and jewellery are usually 925 sterling silver; coins are 999. Ask for 925-hallmarked pieces, and for utensils choose smooth edges and no small bells or parts that could come loose.
Gold for a baby boy or girl
| Gift | Usual weight | Price today |
|---|---|---|
| Bali (small hoops), a pair | 1 to 2 g | ₹15,181 to ₹30,363 |
| Nazariya bracelet, black beads with gold | 1 to 2 g | ₹15,181 to ₹30,363 |
| Chain | 3 to 5 g | ₹45,544 to ₹75,907 |
| Kada, a pair | 4 to 8 g | ₹60,726 to ₹1,21,451 |
Bali and a nazariya bracelet are the usual first gold for a baby girl; a small chain or kada for a baby boy. A 1 gram 24K coin, about ₹15,379 today, is the simplest gift of all.
Which gift for which ceremony
- Naming ceremony (naamkaran): a silver coin, kada or payal, or gold bali.
- Annaprashan, the first rice: a silver bowl and spoon, or the whole feeding set.
- First birthday: a silver glass, a gold chain or a coin.
- For the mother: a pendant or earrings sit well beside a gift for the baby.
Questions
- What silver gift is best for a newborn baby?
- A silver bowl and spoon or a glass, which the child will use for years; a 10 gram silver coin, about ₹2,238 today, is the simplest.
- How much does a silver glass for a baby cost?
- A baby's silver glass usually weighs 40 to 80 grams, so at today's 925 rate it costs about ₹8,984 to ₹17,969 with making charge and GST.
- Silver or gold for a baby gift?
- Silver goes much further: ₹10,000 buys about 45 g of 925 silver against 0.66 g of 22K gold. Gold bali, a chain or a coin is the choice for close family.