GJEPC held the 3rd edition of its curated Gem & Jewellery Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) at the iconic Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC SEEPZ, where Indian diamond jewellery manufacturers catered to global buyers from the U.S., Brazil, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, and Canada.
GJEPC organised the 3rd edition of the Gem and Jewellery Buyer Seller Meet (G&J BSM) at the iconic Bharat Ratnam, Mega CFC SEEPZ in Mumbai on 30th Sept- 1st Oct, 2024.
The two-day event was graced by the presence of Dnyaneshwar Patil, Development Commissioner, SEEPZ, C.P.S Chauhan, IRS, Joint Development Commissioner, SEEPZ, Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, Colin Shah, Head – Working Group, Bharat Ratnam, Mega CFC, Mia Katrin, International Coordinator, USA, Ms. Ali Pastorini, International Coordinator, and Latin America and Ms. Olga Gonzalez, Pietra PR LLC.
The 28 international buyers came from countries such as the USA, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, and Canada.
The 10 Indian exhibitors were V.M. Jewellery, Goldstar Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., Kama Jewelry Pvt. Ltd., Gemcrown Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., Ethos Jewelry Designs LLP, Elegant Collection, United Jewellery Mfg. Pvt. Ltd., Shish Jewels Pvt. Ltd., Uni Design Jewellery Pvt. Ltd., K.G.K. Creations (India) Pvt. Ltd. and Minal Infojewels Limited.
Welcoming the international guests, Kirit Bhansali, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, noted, “India has long been a cornerstone in the global jewellery trade, known for its extraordinary craftsmanship and deep-rooted traditions in jewellery-making. We take pride in offering a diverse portfolio of products that not only meet but exceed the expectations of international buyers. Our commitment to ethical practices and transparency has earned India its reputation as a trusted and reliable partner in the global marketplace.”
He further emphasized, “In the face of evolving global dynamics, it is essential for the industry to come together and adapt. GJEPC is making concerted efforts towards the promotion of diamond jewellery and building on the demand for the product across key consuming markets.”
He mentioned that GJEPC has collaborated with the Natural Diamond Council and the World Gold Council for generic promotion of diamond and gold jewellery respectively, and urged all stakeholders to unitedly leveraging these efforts and create lasting value for the industry.
Welcoming the international buyers to the BSM meet, Colin Shah, Head – Working Group, Bharat Ratnam, Mega CFC said, “Bharat Ratnam is a pioneering initiative in India and Asia, possibly even globally, where we’ve established a Common Facility Centre offering 20 advanced technical services. These include lab testing, 3D printing, and more, designed to help our members compete on a global scale. The services are available at the state-of-the art centre for both domestic and international markets.”
GJEPC’s USA coordinator Mia Katerine said, “GJEPC’s Buyer Seller Meet is a great opportunity and a win-win situation for both the markets. There is a great opportunity for Indian jewellery exporters to tap the vast opportunities in the US, which has over 20,000 jewellery retailers and wholesalers. India is ideal for wholesale manufacturing and unique craftsmanship and exquisite designs. More importantly, India is quite competitive and cost-efficient despite having the latest technology in manufacturing, cutting and polishing diamonds.”
Olga Gonzalez, CEO, Pietra Communications, noted, “Our agency was delighted to partner with GJEPC to develop the first VIP program for the Buyer-Seller Meet in Mumbai. We brought seven brands who are interested in manufacturing in India. The needs varied for each—from full-service CAD and manufacturing of entire lines to taking on manufacturing of specific collections. Natural diamond bridal, coloured gemstone statement bespoke, fine jewellery with enamel, and lab-grown fashion collections are all being brought to the table. The quality of the meetings has been outstanding. I’ll definitely be back in the spring developing a second VIP buyer group for GJEPC. The quality of the products exhibited were outstanding and I look forward to seeing each of these brands grow their capabilities in India.”
Ali Pastorini, GJEPC’s Latin American coordinator, said, “Indian companies are incredibly humble and open to learning, which is why international buyers, including my delegation from Mexico, Brazil, the USA, Spain, and the Caribbean, are attracted to doing business here. They quickly adapt to changing markets and seize new opportunities. For example, even with challenges in the Chinese market, Indian companies explore untapped regions like Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of the USA and Europe. This adaptability and willingness to grow make them stand out, allowing them to thrive even in difficult times.”
The buyers were highly impressed by the extensive inventory, carefully curated to meet the demands of global markets.
Brazilian retailers Nelson and Rodolfo Semeoni from Montecristo said, “Since we are one of the biggest jewellery retailers in Brazil, we are looking for strategic partners in India.
“The Indian gem & jewellery industry is quite strong in all diverse aspects of the value chain. The bridal market in Brazil has evolved and we offer brides two distinct opportunities in terms of diamond rings and white gold jewellery – all of which can be sourced directly from India. We are also looking for premiumisation for discerning high end customers and India can help us there too.”
Dallas Prince, from Los Angeles, California, noted that the most important thing for her at any show was to check colour gemstones as she “utilizes diamonds as accents. My designs are vintage with an edge. Glad that vintage is back, and we are going to see a lot of it going into the holidays. Also, I am seeing a lot of vintage men’s jewellery.
For the Holiday season in the US, consumers are going to move to platinum for a short period of time, as gold prices are skyrocketing. Platinum for me, for my designs will raise the level of the jewellery itself.
Maliya Mcnaughton, jewellery designer and a graduate gemmologist from Brooklyn, New York, revealed that her clients were seeking unique diamond jewellery. Customisation is very important to them, as they want the pieces to reflect their heritage. This is my first visit to India and I’m looking for ways to connect with sourcing my clients. That’s very important to them to know where their products are being made.
The BSM followed a structured format, featuring pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings lasting approximately 30 to 40 minutes between buyers and sellers during the two-day meet.
GJEPC has further lined up events in the future aimed at providing Indian gem and jewellery manufacturers with global exposure.