Elmira Khodajaeva, Director of Turmalin Estet, shares why diamonds, mounting jewellery, and European-style minimalism define Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan’s buying strategy at India’s premier gem and jewellery show.
Representing a trade consortium from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, Elmira Khodajaeva, Director of Turmalin Estet, speaks to us about what brings Central Asian buyers to the IIJS year after year. With an eye on diamonds, machinery, and mounting jewellery, Khodajaeva shares insights into regional tastes and expectations from one of the show’s more collaborative delegations.
Ms. Khodajaeva, welcome back to IIJS. How long have you been attending the show?
We’ve been coming since 2016, and we’ve seen it grow year after year. It’s much bigger and better organised now than when we first started.
You represent a consortium of three countries. Do each of you come with different sourcing needs?
Not really. Our goals are aligned—we’re here mostly for diamonds, jewellery-making machinery, and mounting jewellery. So, it makes sense to come together, pool our resources, and work as a team.
You mentioned mounting jewellery—do you feel IIJS offers enough in that category?
That’s one area we feel could improve. There aren’t enough vendors offering mountings—that is, jewellery pieces without gemstones. Many of us prefer to source diamonds separately and set them ourselves, so more mount options would be very welcome.
What are you sourcing from India specifically?
Diamonds are our primary focus—especially SI1 and SI2 clarity, with high-colour grades, typically white or yellow. We also explore machinery for jewellery production, though that depends on the type and technology available.
What jewellery trends are currently popular in your region?
We don’t really follow trends like in Western markets. Our clients prefer clean, minimalist designs—nothing too ornate or heavy. That’s why European-style jewellery works better for us than traditional Indian pieces.
So traditional Indian jewellery doesn’t sell in Central Asia?
Not as much. Indian designs are beautiful, but too intricate for our market. We mostly work with 14- and 18-karat gold, paired with simple diamond settings. Our customers value quality and elegance over embellishment.
Any areas where IIJS could improve beyond the product offerings?
Honestly, the show is very well managed. But feedback-wise, I’d say better segmentation in categories like mountings would be helpful for buyers like us.
How important is relationship-building during your visits to India?
Extremely important. Many of our partnerships are built over time. Even if we don’t know everyone by name, we recognise faces and build trust gradually. That’s part of why we return each year.
Any final words on IIJS 2025?
It’s always a pleasure to be here. IIJS continues to be an essential platform for us to source competitively, explore new suppliers, and keep pace with the industry. We look forward to coming back next year.