That India’s jewellery industry is moving steadily into a modern era, with a rising interest in what technology and machinery can do to transform businesses was amply evident in the crowds that thronged the machinery section of the 35th edition of the India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2018, now perhaps among the largest of its kind in the world.

The enthusiasm to explore technology, which had taken roots in the metro and larger cities and among big manufacturers over the past decades, is now spreading to next level of cities and towns, more remote regions and even among smaller players.

Evidence of this was that the crowds were there despite the distance from the main jewellery show – the section is situated over two adjoining venues, The Lalit and The Leela, which are an appreciable distance away. Clearly, those who had travelled here were directly interested in checking out the latest technological developments in manufacturing and related processes.

It was apparent that they were not causal walk-ins, and most exhibitors too opined that there was a healthy mix of those who were mainly keen to learn more about what was available, as well as those who had come to seriously explore and place new orders.

The positive mood on the shop floor was definitely a notch higher than in previous years.

Shankesh R. Shah, Director - SRS Jewelkon, a manufacturer of 3D jewellery printing machines, even said that it was reminiscent of the pre-2008 period. “This has been a fantastic show – the mood among visitors is really upbeat and people are beginning to regain confidence and plan for the longer term. For the first time since 2007, we are seeing buyers who have literally come with ‘money in their wallets’, meaning that they are placing orders and making immediate down payments as well,” he said.

Shah believes that the innovative technology and schemes being offered by his company has helped. “3D printing has been around for some time, but we have introduced a new range of very affordable yet good quality machines at this show.”

The company is also offering an option to rent the machine at Rs 19,500 per month. “The jewellers can use it as long as they want and purchase once they are fully satisfied.”

On a similar note, Hardeep (Harry) Trivedi of DRC Techno, said, “The show has been very good with a lot of interest from visitors from different parts of the country.”

DRC Techno had used the IIJS as a platform to introduce its new J-Smart diamond detection device. It is a smaller, lighter and faster device that can accurately detect synthetics – both CVD and HPHT, with a 98% accuracy. It is suited for smaller jewellers and can even be used in retail showrooms. With simple add-ons to the basic tray on which jewellery is placed for scanning, even bangles or rings can be tested with a 3600 check in one single cycle.

Shah informs us that the company already has pre-booked orders from the soft launch during pre-show marketing for deliveries till end September.

Also giving a thumbs up to the interest shown by Indian jewellers was Sebastiano Zamperetti, Export Manager, G.B. Bertoncello which is represented by Nickunj in India. “We are very happy with the developments in the Indian market where we have been present for many years with clients in Mumbai, different parts of Tamil Nadu, Surat and Rajasthan. Our top seller is hardening furnaces which strengthen the surfaces and improve the finish of the piece of jewellery.”

Zamperetti described IIJS 2018 as “excellent for us, with a large turnout including many who are eager to see and understand the new technologies plus a number of serious inquiries too.”

At the Jewellery Technology & Equipments DMCC (JTE) booth, Tarun Thadeshwar, Director was enthusiastic about the response too. “The show has been really good. It is energising and interesting to come here and meet jewellers from different parts of the country. From large manufacturers to small jewellers, they are all here.”

Shah explained that JTE offers turnkey solutions to the industry, right from planning the best layout for a new plant to providing the training and support to the employees on operations and maintenance. “Jewellers need not deal with multiple suppliers of machinery, we do it all for them,” he says,

“We have had some very good meetings over the first two days and are confident that the show will end on a high note for us,” he concludes.

At the Sahajanand Laser Technology (SLTL) Group stall, Abhishek Jain from the sales team said that the response has been positive over the first three days. “Our laser markers are well known in the industry and are used by nearly 70% of existing hallmarking centres,” he states, adding that the fibre technology machines which give greater speed, accuracy and sharpness and can be used for 24x7 operations are the most popular.

During the show there have been a good response from “visitors from Mumbai, Surat, Bengaluru as well as different parts of North and South India”, Jain said.

First time exhibitor YanTang Group of China was new to the Indian market. “We have recently begun overseas operations and now have a representative in India,” said Ivan Li, Sales Manager. He explains that the company has large milling machines with special patents for the 5 axis and 7 axis models.

“We are new to India and this show, and the crowds are very large and quite amazing,” he added, while qualifying that “though people are stopping to look at what we have, many of them are not actually those who may be the decision makers for selecting large machines like these.”

But, he states with a smile, “We had hoped for more, though we are quite satisfied with this first experience.”