Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS) The Tata Group Monday unveiled a Nano car – made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones – worth an astronomical over Rs.22 crore.
Watch and jewellery maker Titan, which owns the Goldplus chain of jewellery, has decided to gold plate one Nano, the wonder car from Tata, as part of its campaign to celebrate 5,000 years of Indian jewellery.
But, it’s not for sale – the valuable and fully functional car is a unique branding and promotional initiative by Goldplus Jewellery, part of Titan Industries, a Tata Group company, an official said.
The mega-value Goldplus Nano Car was unveiled Monday evening by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.
The Goldplus Nano Car pales the average Rs.1.40 lakh Nano, which started with a Rs.1 lakh price tag at its launch.
The Goldplus Nano Car is billed as the world’s first ever gold jewellery car and celebrates the 5,000 years of jewellery making industry in India.
The car’s body is made with 80 kg 22 carat solid gold, 15 kg silver, precious stones – including diamonds, rubies – and other expensive gemstones, the official said.
“As many as 14 techniques of jewellery making have gone behind the effort — from the intricate filigree work to the delicate and colourful meenakari work, the stunning kundan to the traditional naqashi…marking the convergence of diverse and culturally distinct jewellery making techniques from around India,” the official told IANS.
Titan threw a challenge to its designers to gold clad Nano, with traditional jewellery designs as the core concept. Unveiling the three shortlisted designs, Titan said it would ask the public to vote for the best design.
Titan Industries managing director Bhaskar Bhat said that since eternity, jewellery made with gold and precious stones has been an integral part of the Indian woman’s life.
“We will gold clad one Nano car with the most popular design and show it around the country. Some may even get a chance to ride the modern gold chariot,” Venkataraman said.
He said the company will be adding five more Goldplus outlets this year to take the total number to 34 outlets across six states. The average investment per Goldplus store is around Rs.7 crore ($1.5 million) and each store is earning around Rs.20 crore per annum.
After its glittering launch in Mumbai Monday evening, the Goldplus Nano Car will travel to all the Goldplus showrooms at 29 locations around the country.
The car incorporates beautiful designs, made with the precious stones of different colours, set on the gold and silver body of the car.
Titan’s two jewellery divisions (Tanishq and Goldplus) this year are expected to close with a turnover in excess of Rs.4,500 crore ($1 billion) as against Rs.3,500 crore ($789 million) earned last fiscal.
“Goldplus revenue will be more than Rs.500 crore and that of Tanishq will be more than Rs.4,000 crore,” Venkataraman said.
