{"id":38084,"date":"2026-09-15T14:29:54","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T08:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/?p=38084"},"modified":"2026-09-15T14:29:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T08:59:54","slug":"mr-arvind-c-parikh-the-diamond-industrys-enduring-doyen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gjepc.org\/solitaire\/mr-arvind-c-parikh-the-diamond-industrys-enduring-doyen\/","title":{"rendered":"Mr. Arvind C. Parikh: The Diamond Industry\u2019s Enduring Doyen"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seven decades in the industry and still going strong! That\u2019s<\/em> Mr. Arvind Chhotalal Parikh <\/strong>for you. A 95-year-old veteran, entrepreneur and distinguished leader of the Indian diamond industry, his work has encompassed rough diamond manufacturing and purchasing, polished diamond trading and exports, and the representation of India\u2019s diamond trade on the international stage.<\/em><\/p>\n

Age is no barrier for this doyen, who still serves as an active Partner at Crystal Diamonds, located at the Bharat Diamond Bourse. His involvement reflects both his passion for diamonds and his commitment to sharing the knowledge, experience and nuances of the trade with succeeding generations. Mr. Parikh was bestowed with a Special Recognition Award For Distinguished Service & Extraordinary Contributions during the 52nd edition of GJEPC\u2019s IGJA ceremony held on September 13, 2026 presented by Hon\u2019ble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah. <\/em><\/p>\n

Born in Rangoon, Burma on 23 February 1931, Mr. Arvind Chhotalal Parikh was brought to Mumbai at the age of two and a half and was raised by the family of the late Mr. Chandulal Mohanlal Mehta of Mohanlal Raichand and Sons.<\/p>\n

After completing his matriculation from Modern High School, Sikkanagar, Mumbai in 1946 and studying at Bhavan\u2019s College up to Intermediate Science, he began his career in 1948 as an apprentice with Mohanlal Raichand and Sons. Three years later, he spent six months in Kolkata learning diamond marketing with his uncle, the late Mr. Amratlal Parikh. He also deepened his knowledge of rough valuation and buying at the Panna mines before embarking on his own diamond business in 1951, initially working with old-cut diamonds, parab and vilandi, including recutting.<\/p>\n

In 1954, with a loan from his father, he purchased his first parcel of rough diamonds worth Rs. 10,000 at a Panna diamond auction. A decade later, he established Arnik International. In 1965, he travelled to Antwerp for rough diamond purchases and also formed the Diamond Star joint venture with the late Mr. Chhotubhai Shah and the late Mr. Parasbhai Jain.<\/p>\n

A year later, he helped establish Bluestar through his close association with the late Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta. It was only in 1976 that he founded Crystal Diamonds, where he has remained actively involved ever since, today working alongside the third generation.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, Mr. Parikh repeatedly represented the diamond trade before senior policymakers, including meetings with the late Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the late Shri N. D. Tiwari, the late Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi and Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia. He was instrumental in industry representations concerning Customs rules, including the removal of the onus-of-proof requirement for diamonds.<\/p>\n

During India\u2019s 1991 foreign-exchange crisis, when remittances for imported rough diamonds were restricted, he helped facilitate discussions between Diamond Exporters Association Ltd. (DEAL) members and the Reserve Bank of India. Following the industry\u2019s representations, the RBI permitted remittances for rough diamonds that had already been imported.<\/p>\n

BEYOND DIAMONDS<\/strong><\/p>\n

A keen cricketer, Mr. Parikh captained the Palanpur Cricket Club for nearly ten years and played in tournaments including the Talim Shield, Purshottam Shield and Kanga League, in which he scored a century. He has also been an enthusiastic traveller and a highly sociable person who valued friendships, family gatherings, films, theatre and card games.<\/p>\n

His love for travel and people went hand in hand with a career that took him across continents, including Antwerp, Tanzania, Bangkok, and brought him into contact with some of the biggest names in the diamond world, including Mr. Harry Winston and Mr. Gianni Bulgari, Chairman and CEO of Bvlgari.<\/p>\n

He developed enduring business relationships and friendships with leading members of the trade, including the late Mr. Arunbhai Mehta of Rosy Blue, the late Mr. Kavinbhai Parikh of Mahendra Brothers and the late Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta.<\/p>\n

At the age of 95, Mr. Parikh continues to remain actively engaged in the diamond business. Even after more than seven decades in the trade, he has described himself as a student of the diamond industry\u2014continuing to examine diamonds, share his experience and guide the next generation.<\/p>\n

However, he credits his wife, Vasuben, whom he married in 1954, as the backbone of his personal and professional journey. His professional journey is defined by entrepreneurship, institution-building, international representation and sustained service to India\u2019s diamond industry. From beginning his career in 1948 to building businesses and helping shape major trade bodies, his legacy spans generations and continues through his active involvement today.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Mr. Arvind C. Parekh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CAREER MILESTONES <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Working Committee member of GJEPC for 22 consecutive years from 1968; served as Convener of the Diamond Panel and as Vice Chairman for six terms.<\/li>\n
  • Member of GJEPC\u2019s first composite delegation in 1972, visiting major European diamond centres and the USA; led the Council\u2019s diamond delegation to the USA, Canada, and Venezuela in 1976; led delegations to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and to Japan and South Korea, in the early 1980s.<\/li>\n
  • Member of a Government of India fact-finding delegation to Tanzania in the late 1970s, and a member of a Finance Ministry Tripartite Committee formed to address issues facing the diamond industry.<\/li>\n
  • Founder member of Diamond Exporters Association Ltd. (DEAL) since 1973; served as President for nearly 30 years.<\/li>\n
  • Founder member of Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB); served as Vice President for six years.<\/li>\n
  • Trustee of Gemological Institute of India (GII) for over three decades.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Felicitated and honoured jointly by Bharat Diamond Bourse (BDB) and Diamond Exporters\u2019 Association Limited (DEAL) with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, in recognition of his dedicated service and lifetime contribution to the Indian gems and jewellery industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Seven decades in the industry and still going strong! That\u2019s Mr. Arvind Chhotalal Parikh for you. A 95-year-old veteran, entrepreneur and distinguished leader of the Indian diamond industry, his work has encompassed rough diamond manufacturing and purchasing, polished diamond trading and exports, and the representation of India\u2019s diamond trade on the international stage. Age is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":38085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[106,79],"tags":[],"thb-sponsors":[],"class_list":["post-38084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manufacturing","category-viewpoint"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMr. Arvind C. 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