IIJS Striving to Establish Global Moorings Vast Potential yet to be Exploited Fully
{{India International Jewellery Show }}({{IIJS}}) 2006 kicked off with an inauguration ceremony at the hands of Union Minister for Textiles, Shankar Singh Vaghela. He promised government help for the gems and jewellery industry as it sought to turn India into a global trading hub. The industry, he noted, was unique in that though the product was not something that involved the commoners, it was the largest provider of livelihoods for the common man. He lauded the industry's efforts to seeking to turn itself into a global trading hub and acknowledged that government's help was needed if it were to successfully compete with other entrants such as China.%% IIJS 2006 ran from May 4 to 8, 2006 with steady visitor turnout Domestic visitors were about 17,000 and International visitors 2,000. A number of fascinating launches, better infrastructure and change in dates made IIJS conclude smoothly this year. Almost 90% exhibitors were happy with the arrangements, security and updated infrastructure provided by the organizer the {{Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council}} ({{GJEPC}}). However less than expected visitor turnout ticked off many exhibitors who concluded that the changed dates were generally not favored. More than 70% exhibitors opined that May wasn't a very suitable time to hold such events Thus the Show could not fully meet global expectations in the eyes of many.%%{{ Fashion Bistro:}}$$ The {{Fashion Bistro}}, located in Hall 2, was an entirely new concept that combined fine dining with showcasing exhibitors' products. Visitors could sample some of the best international cuisine, fine wines and beer while they watched models strut down the enclosed catwalk wearing stunning jewellery from some of the exhibitors. In fact, the Fashion Bistro had been selected as the launch venue for several jewellery collections from exhibitors. Thus the Fashion Bistro was considered to be the focal point of entertainment and relaxation at IIJS 2006, featuring live music, a celebrity DJ and shows featuring a variety of regional themes from all over India.
{{International Gemological
Institute}}
{{Traditional Indian Pavilion:}}$$ {{Zebaaish}} the traditional jewellery pavilion at the IIJS, was situated in Hall 6. It celebrated the traditional legacy by showcasing age-old jewellery crafting techniques: |*Minakari, Kundan*| and |*Chaitrakaam*|. It was conceptualized by the GJEPC and the National Institute of Design. The pavilion aimed to educate exhibitors and visitors alike with live engaging demonstrations by karigars (traditional craftsmen) and had on display contemporary pieces of traditional jewellery manufactured by {{Amrapali Jewellers}}. %% While traditional Indian jewellery is being much appreciated, it is necessary to embrace contemporary styles for the Indian industry to grow in the international arena. However this internationalization has resulted in mass production with Indian designers lagging the West. Thus there is not much Indian in contemporary Indian jewellery offerings. The Traditional Pavilion concept helped recall tradition and inspired the modern jewellers to imbibe traditional techniques and create new collections. Also, most importantly, it highlighted karigars and their craftsmanship.
{{International Gemological Laboratories}}
{{Fine Jewellery (India) Ltd.}}
{{Italian Pavilion :}}$$ The {{Italian Trade Commission (ICE)}} had 18 Italian companies and their niche creations showcased at the IIJS 2006. Some of the highlights of the Italian participants include designs in hollow gold chains from Tecnigold, designer collections and hand-made designs with genuine murano gold from {{Rossana Oro}}, sterling silver jewellery from {{Rasai Gemma}}, palladium chains and modern chain designs like rope, ball, wheat and cable. {{Aurogold}} launched, Auro Classic Lines, new funky jewellery for the youth. The collection was designed by Indian and Italian designers is priced between Rs.15,000 and Rs.1 lakh ($333-$2,222). The Auro Classic Lines, crafted in yellow, white and pink gold, has a unique lighting sequence. %%{{ Seminars Popular :}}$$ {{Seminars}} drew record crowds at the Show this year with the trade flocking to the {{Spectrum Seminars}} on {{21st Century Retailing}} held daily at IIJS. Relevant topics and expert speakers attracted eager audiences. The seminars were held on various topics like overview of the US Retail Market, Selling Jewellery on the Internet, Finance & Insurance for Export, Professionalising for Growth, Branding / Advertising / Corporate Identity, etc. The two panel discussions saw an interesting exchange of views on the role of brands in India's retail sector and on growth through modern management techniques. Prominent speakers like {{Ashok Minawala}} Pallazio, {{Fatehchand Ranka}} Ranka Jewellers, {{Manish Jain}} Rajmal Lakhichand, {{Rajeev Popley}} K.G. Popley & Sons, {{Nirupa Bhatt}} Rio Tinto Diamonds, {{Manoj Kumar}}, ECGC, {{Neelesh Hundekari}}, KPMG- made the seminars informative and helpful for the audiences and exhibitors alike.
{{Valentine Jewellery India Pvt.
Ltd.}}
{{ABN-AMRO-Solitaire Design Contest :}}$$ It attracted some of the finest jewellery design talent and skilled craftsmanship from all over India for the sixth year. Over 70 companies entered 308 pieces of jewellery to compete in three categories: Couture, Daily Wear and Plain Gold. An eminent panel of judges- {{Neelam Kothari, Shrikant G. Zaveri, Ashok Minawala, Dhimant S. Panchal, Prof. Pradyumna Vyas}}- from the fields of design, education, jewellery fabrication and fashion judged the contest in two stages. The winners were feted at a gala awards night on May 7, 2006. Ashok Chavan, Maharashtra's minister for Industries, Mining, Protocol and Cultural Affairs and Biju Patnaik, head, ABN-AMRO, Diamond Banking, India presented the awards. Winners received a special trophy and tickets to exotic vacation destinations. The winners in the Couture category held annually by the GJEPC, attracted some of the finest jewellery designing talent from all over India for the 6th year running. The competition received over 300 entries from 75 companies. There were three broad categories, which consisted of Couture, Daily Wear and Classic Gold. Overall, there were 20 winners and three Best in Category awards. The best stalls at IIJS were also recognised. The IIGJ Vision 2006 was an all India jewellery design competition held for students. %%{{ Best Stalls :}}$$ The winners in the best jewellery stall category were Sheetal Mfg. Co, Navin Gems, Goldiam International and Dimexon Diamonds Ltd while the winner in machinery and allied stalls section was Precious Alloys Pvt Ltd.
{{Overseas Delegates :
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IIJS 2006 was visited by official delegations from Egypt, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Iran, Thailand and Pakistan. Many of the delegations expressed the desire for closer ties between the gems and jewellery industry in their country and the GJEPC and sought ways in which mutually beneficial initiatives might be developed. {{H. Shafi Choksey}}, head of a 15-member delegation from Pakistan stated that his country's jewellers are keen to promote cross border collaboration in the gems and jewellery sector. The Pakistan industry employs around one million people and is estimated to be about $1.2 billion in size, of which exports amount to less than 5%. “We wish the Indian industry to help our growth, and increase our competitiveness, said Choksey. Pakistan could especially benefit from India's progress in technology and training, he added. Collaboration is also possible in the colored gemstones sector, according to Choksey. Pakistan's rich mineral resources include 21 gemstones such as emerald, aquamarine, peridot, kumzite, etc. which are largely untapped, Choksey would like to see joint ventures in exploration and direct supply to India in future. Over 50 visitors from Pakistan turned up at IIJS this year.
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Innovative Launches :}}$$
The students of Indian Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IIGJ) showcased the winning pieces from the Vision 2006 competition at a stall in the Business Centre. ATR Institute of Jewellery had displayed twenty one designs of their students at their stall in the Allied section titled Jannat-E-Kashmir; the designs were inspired from the beautiful State of Kashmir. The senior students of the department of Fashion and Lifestyle Accessory of the {{National Institute of Fashion Technology}} had put together a fascinating palette of predictive design concepts. Not content with tracking existing trends, the budding designers have delved into aspects of contemporary interest like spiritualism, NRI fusion, the movies and global warming, drawing inferences which are adapted to jewellery design and technology. The NIFT stall displayed the results of their endeavor imaginative design forms and jewellery in unusual shapes and materials.
{{KGK Jewellery (HK) Ltd.}}
{{Graham Nicholas Smith &
Charie Saldhana of DTC}}
{{Gembel European Sales N.V.}}
{{Orra}}, branded jewellery from the Rosy Blue group opened the Fashion Show with its latest collection, {{Venus}}. A new collection of contemporary Italian jewellery by the {{World Gold Council}} in association with the {{Vicenza}} Fair, {{AngloGold Ashanti}} and {{D'Damas Gold}} was launched. {{Jewelex}} launched a collection of men's band at the IIJS. The 18 kt diamond studded bands are priced between Rs.11, 000- Rs.71, 000 ($245- $1581). {{Kashi Jewellers}} launched maiden IIJS collection and the Sunshine Collection.
{{Vanshi}}, the brand from {{Kabir Jewels}} introduced a range of wedding jewellery at the Show. From the house of {{Goldiam International}} a collection titled Ola was unveiled.
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{{Hammer Plus}} launched '{{Trityam}}' its latest collection of platinum pendants in collaboration with the {{Platinum Guild International}}.
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In a glittering ceremony, {{Gitanjali Group}} launched the {{Stefan Hafner}} brand at the Bistro. Known for weaving dreams into reality, Hafner's creations are defined as 'the happiest in the world'. Another line inspired by Middle Eastern opulence and charm was launched by {{Fine Jewellery India Ltd 'Nirvana Gold'}} for the first time under their flagship brand 'Nirvana'. Breaking away from traditional gold concepts, the brand has experimented with a lighter look and feel but has maintained the delicacy and sensuousness that only gold jewellery can exude.
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The {{Cupio cut}} diamond was launched in India by the DTC Sightholder {{K.P. Sanghvi}} Group after successfully debuting in the US, Japan and Europe. Cupio was unveiled by two of India's premier models, Ujjwala Raut and Shivani Kapur. The 73-faceted gem is available in various sizes, ranging from 20-pointers all the way up to 1.00 carat. Literally outshining and outscoring the princess cut in light performance tests, the Cupio diamond has been cut for maximum brilliance.
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The {{International Gemological Institute}}, pioneer of diamond and diamond jewellery certification in India had provided the gems and jewellery trade with a great experience. Their stall at IIJS was highly interactive; with its innovative and informative acrylic lit stands highlighting IGI services together.
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IIJS was a place to get noticed and to flaunt ones creations. It had the right ambience and the right mood which gave the jewellers a platform to dazzle viewers with their creations in a competitive environment.
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Infrastructure Scores :}}$$
Networking at the IIJS was excellent this year. A range of services aimed at making the goings on easier had been put in place to ensure that visitors and exhibitors remained connected to the internet throughout the venue. Keeping mobility in mind, the organisers had provided a secure Wi-Fi network that permitted exhibitors and visitors to connect wirelessly to the internet throughout the 46,000 square metres of the Show, free of cost. For those whose computers are not equipped to tap into wireless networks, Wi-Fi cards were made available on hire along with devices like printers and scanners.
{{Kiah Diamond Jewellery}}
{{Aarti Jewels (above) & Ciemme}}
{{Jaymit}} saw to it that IIJS 2006 was the safest so far. With a security cordon that comprised six layers, in addition to the usual posse of trained, armed guards, a network of 250-plus security cameras worked around the clock, offering a unique vantage point that made every move easy to observe. The whole Show was available online at www.iijs.org for the audience to watch live. Several live feeds of streaming videos gave viewers a bird's eye view of the day's happenings.
{{Re-thinking about Timing :}}$$
IIJS 2006 proved many things. It proved the determination and can-do attitude of the GJEPC in overcoming the setbacks of last year and putting together an international Show of this magnitude. So positive has it been that majority of those taking part said they could actually feel the difference and that the Show was much better than the previous one. Equally improved was the disaster planning this year that the Show ran on the last three days blissfully unaware that it had lost 50 per cent of its high-tension electric power as a whole fleet of generators stepped in to smoothly pick up the load. While overall visitor 17,000 traffic was perceived as being lower this year, many observers noted that serious trade enquiries were much more in evidence. Having assessed the situation, however, the GJEPC has decided that with infrastructure development at the venue positively slated for completion by next year, the Show could well be shifted to its original calendar slot of July for 2007.
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Navin Jashnani}}, Convenor IIJS, said, “We've been fortunate in that we've learnt lessons over the past few years. We have faltered on occasions, but we have always bounced back, improvised and improved and gone on to new heights.
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Sabyasachi Ray}}, the GJEPC's Director Exhibitions, says, “I think the Show has been great from a variety of stand points. The look of the Show was great, but the highlight was the reliable infrastructure. For the first time, we had a backup for every possible hitch that could occur.
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