India, May 15 -- A fter Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to avoid buying gold, the Centre on Wednesday raised customs duty on gold and silver from 6% to 15% in a bid to curb imports and conserve foreign exchange amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis. The move has prompted many families and couples to repurpose heirloom jewellery instead of investing in new gold. "I have planned to refurbish old heirloom jewellery into elegant, everyday-wear pieces. The rise in gold prices will also help offset the making charges," says Arushi, a 30-year-old MarCom professional from Chandigarh. Jewellers across the Chandigarh tricity say they have witnessed a considerable rise in exchange and remodelling requests, even as fresh purchases have slowed down. "We have seen a significant shift in customer behaviour. Gold, which traditionally offered exceptional returns and was considered one of the safest investment options, is now increasingly being repurposed rather than purchased," says Mahender Khurana, managing director of Sunder Jewellers and senior vice-president of the Chandigarh Sarafa Association. "There is also a growing inclination towards diamond jewellery, although it has never really been viewed as an investment purchase," he adds. Echoing the trend, Kulbir Singh Chauhan of Chauhan Sons Jewellers says, "We have received several requests from customers to recycle their heritage jewellery. Many of them are families preparing for upcoming weddings or other major functions."...