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Proverbially, two of a trade seldom agree; but for once, so many of them
have unanimously predicted that precious future belongs to Jewellery -
not the run of the mill common product but the special branded variety.
I was in Dubai, popularly called the Gold Capital of the World when its
third International Conference on the subject was convened in February
2005. Acknowledged experts and business notables converged on the Gold
Capital to debate and decide the future of the gems and jewellery sector,
the producer of fascinating, adorable jewels, yet which it seems is fighting
a losing battle in the luxury goods segment. While other luxuries such
as perfumes and watches are claiming nearly a 10% slice of the cake, jewellery
is lagging far behind. However, far sighted observers of the precious
sector, could foresee the silver lining. Yes, jewellery, the latest branded
variety can put in a far larger claim of sharing the luxury market, but
not with the prevailing complacency. It has to be aggressively publicized
and promoted to catch the fancy of the younger generation that is being
enticed by so many other attractions that are being pushed across by vigorous
advertising. Let me add here jewellery as a means of salting away surplus
funds is losing interest even in traditional India; because so many other
instruments for gainful investment are readily available now, that guarantee
safety of invested money as well as reasonable liquidity. But a newly
unfolding trend that has become evident in recent times is jewellery for
fashion. Latest trendy jewellery is being patronized by fashionable society
and it is also being purchased repeatedly with changing fashions. In this
scenario enters branded jewellery - produced mainly by the Diamond Trading
Company (DTC) Sight holders who are the top most Suppliers of Choice,
and strongly promoted by the De Beers. Since this branded jewellery contains
beautiful diamonds and selected colored gemstones that transform it to
dreamy jewels, polished gemstones, exported loose earlier, have started
playing a second innings as studding in sparkling branded jewellery that
is not only captivating to look at, but is guaranteed value wise as it
comes from renowned jewellery houses and has the additional backing of
a global giant like De Beers. Still, it was felt and stated by shrewd
trade leaders at Dubai that branded jewellery needs much more promotional
and publicity support to push it up in the luxuries segment. Acceptance
of this realization resulted in a substantial offer of US$ 1 million by
the Dubai Gold Group for a publicity pool to be got together with cooperation
of the biggest operators of the precious world for vigorous promotion
of jewellery sales. Wholesale labrorite Jewellery
Besides fast track progress in jewellery exports and inland sales, India
is the top notcher in diamonds. Its latest tally of 60% by carat weight,
80% by volume and 90% in terms of polished pieces, it has virtually become
the uncrowned diamond king. It is a meteoric leap from a very modest beginning
some 40 years ago. It is no more a floor- squatting, hand wheel pulling
cottage industry. Over the years of phenomenal prowess and progress, India
has given a modern, scientific infrastructure to the gems and jewellery
sectors with huge processing factories equipped with state-of-the-art
laser technology, automatic machinery and computerization. Besides these
essentials, world-class testing and certification Labs 'as well as latest
training facilities have been provided for the huge workforce. Several
Export Processing Zones have been established at various places for exclusive
production for exports. Even the retail inland sales network is undergoing
transformation from traditional jewellery shops to modern Malls providing
a variety of selected goods and services under one roof. One more multi-pronged
initiative taken by the Indian gems and jewellery sector is much needed
promotional exercises. While dynamic Indian gems men are regularly attending
international fairs and expos abroad, several inland exhibitions are also
being organized that offer exposure to the latest Indian innovations and
choicest goods being produced here. A number of promotional contests are
also being held, in the country with the help of De Beers, World Gold
Council and private organizations. Rio Tinto also helped India in getting
a foot hold in USA through its Indo-Argyle Diamond Corporation. Wholesale moonstone Jewellery
Looking inwards a DTC study recorded that only 10 percent of Indian women
preferred diamond-studded jewels as their preferred items of jewellery.
A decade later this figure has grown to 43 per cent! No wonder Antwerp
based observers have commented recently that "India now attracts
diamond industry's attention as a growing diamond jewellery market."
With so much production of polished diamonds and a rapidly developing
diamond jewellery industry, the world wide shortage of diamond rough is
also being felt by India and prices are going up. Even the DTC has revised
its rough prices upwards by 3% for Sight goods in 2005. To consider the
vitally important matter of rough shortage and various other burning problems,
the Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) is organizing
its second 'Mines to Markets' Global Diamond Conference at Mumbai in May,
2005.
Quite interestingly, there are independent observers who hold the view
that if this dear old earth could cough up more diamonds and the mining,
marketing giants channalize more roughs to India, this country is capable
of producing more wonders, after its historic revolution of democratizing
diamonds in the second half of the last century. Wholesale turquoise Jewellery
After this brief update on the latest developments, let us glance back
for the sake of retrospection, which gives the correct perspective to
all that India has been able to achieve in its historical first innings
as well as the current, post-renaissance second work out.
Fast-track Growth & Expansion:
During the last fifty and odd eventful post-independence years, through
which the Indian gems and jewellery sector has re-emerged as a great force
in the
precious world, is it not astonishing that a floor-squatting country
has become a global internet, website supplier and e-commerce trader today?
Over this modern period, Indian gems and jewellery sector has contributed
handsomely to employment and exports, so much so that today it accounts
for nearly 20.00 per cent of the total outflow of finished goods from
the country. Hundreds of thousands of men and women employed by the diamonds,
Jewellery and colored gems industries number over one and a half million-more
than the total workforce of all other gems and jewellery manufacturing
countries taken together growth and progress are all the more noteworthy
when we look at the historic turn when won freedom in the year 1947. While
it brought joy and unlimited hopes for all sectors of industry and trade,
the domestic gems and jewellery sector stood friendless with the future
confronting it with a big question mark. The reason?
It may be recalled that when an independent India opted to become a Democratic
Republic, the transformation not only banished the ruling British Royalty
but also eliminated the Indian Princely States and Maharajas. Consequently
the gems and jewellery sector found itself in doldrums sans clientele,
because previously its goods were patronized mainly by the Indian Maharajas
and the elite. Their fading away created a big void.
For sometime the Indian gems sector also stood somewhat depleted because
many skilled artisans and jewellers migrated to newly formed Pakistan
following partition of the country.
Global Efforts:
After marking time for a while, enterprising Indian gems men hit upon
the idea of exporting cut and polished gemstones and some traditional
jewellery. Jaipur had already started exporting colored gemstones, after
excelling in processing emeralds. Precious entrepreneurs at Mumbai (then
Bombay) picked up diamonds with the support of the international cartel,
De Beers. For exploring foreign markets and establishing trading contacts
with counterparts across the seven seas, some pioneers from Jaipur and
Mumbai ventured abroad. At the same time they organized the precious sector
at home in such a way that it could fulfil expected foreign demand.
Exports Begin:
Cut and polished diamonds, colored gemstones and processed pearls started
trickling out to some overseas destinations in the early sixties. The
progress was rather slow initially. It was then that the Government of
India realized the export potential of this sector and an officially sponsored
apex body, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) was
launched in mid-sixties to guide and help the gems and jewellery sector.
Thereafter the gems sector gathered momentum in exports as well as inland
proliferation.
Meanwhile the Government of India banned the import of polished diamonds,
which were being sold in the country. Since rough diamonds continued to
flow in, the gems sector stepped up cutting and polishing. This initiative
ultimately proved helpful for exports as well.
'Democratizatlon' of Diamonds:
What is especially noteworthy is the fact that India turned over an entirely new leaf and wrote an astounding chapter. It may be recalled that in bygone days, India was of course the top-notcher in the world of gems and jewellery but then tastes were very. different. Costly, heavy handcrafted, gems-studded jewellery was in vogue and India specialized in making it. Fabulous pieces were patronized by not only the Maharajas and Maharanis, but were also offered to deities in the famous temples. But with independence, the old order changed yielding place to new, which had a very different taste for lighter and innovative jewellery. For a number of years India contributed only the processed gemstones which went into modern jewellery, manufactured in foreign countries. So popular and affordable became India's tiny diamonds that the USA commented once: "India has democratized diamonds !" Similarly colored gems, cut and polished in Jaipur particularly, were flowing out to world jewellery centres. India had the advantage of low wages, hence it could afford to process smalls.
Modernzation of Gems Industry:
Keeping pace with changing times and spurred on by widening competition from new players, especially from other low-wage countries, Indian gems men switched over to mechanization and new technology for better and more production, which also meant better working conditions and healthier environment for the artisans. Today even state-of-the-art high-tech laser technology has reached India which can boast of not only some ultramodern processing factories, but also fabrication of modern machinery-indeed a revolution for a country where the hand-driven wheel used to be the only equipment for cutting and polishing, along with some primitive, crude manual tools.
Timely Diversification:
Yet another positive step of far-reaching significance was taken in the last decade when it was realized that by taking on large scale modern jewellery making, India could keep home the added-value which accrues when Indian processed gems are studded into machine-made jewellery overseas. The Government of India declared jewellery as the thrust item for exports. India's & dynamic diamantaires took the lead in establishing export-oriented modern jewellery manufacturing units, equipped with the latest high tech equipment in India, some of those being joint ventures with overseas manufacturers. Other jewellery makers also joined hands. Jaipur too has followed suit and is now manufacturing modern jewellery, some with foreign collaboration also. Soon a jewellery boom resulted.
Today India is regularly exporting gems-studded as well as plain gold
jewellery worth millions of dollars to many countries. Additionally, well-established
jewellery houses have started manufacturing and retailing branded jewellery
within the country. The country has launched its first chain of jewellery
stores across the length and breadth of the land. Hallmarking to guarantee
the purity of gold content is the latest move.
Another addition to India's jewellery industry is the diversification
for expensive platinum jewellery, but it is being produced mainly for
exports because for the local jewellery loving women who patronize white
jewellery, low-cost silver jewellery is available everywhere."
Rough Diamond Trading:
The latest venture which India has undertaken is international trading
in rough diamonds, which promises to develop into a flourishing trade,
may be with more diamonds expected to be mined in India itself as the
world giant De Beers has started diamond prospecting in India in several
States and the Hindustan Diamond Co. Pvt. Ltd. has become its partner.
Official Support :
The Government of India may have been slow in granting facilities and
adopting congenial policies previously, but lately it has cooperated and
supported the forex earning gems and jewellery sector. It has been revising
and streamlining many of its earlier policies.
Many public sector and private banks are also financing the Indian gems
sector for exports.
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