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CaratLane Opens First Mumbai StoreCaratLane, a Tanishq partnership firm, opened its first store in Mumbai last month at High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel, a popular shopping hub. This store launch, CaratLane’s 15th in the country, is another step forward in expanding its retail footprint and making its jewellery more accessible.

“We are extremely proud to launch our first store in Mumbai which exudes an unrivalled aura. Along with warm and cosy interiors for this store, we’ve created swanky jewellery box displays to encourage ‘browsing’, providing the perfect setting for a truly memorable jewellery buying experience. Spread across 450 sq ft, the store also houses a Solitaire Corner and the virtual try-on 'magic mirror'. Our store here is a testament to our commitment to make modern, affordable jewellery increasingly accessible,” said Mithun Sacheti, founder & CEO of CaratLane.

“We believe that jewellery should be for everyone and not for a select few. Through our StreamLane™ system, we eliminate inefficiencies from the supply chain resulting in savings of up to 25% over traditional retailers that we pass on to our customers,” he further added.

IIGJ Andheri Holds Tenth Convocation CeremonyThe Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery (IIGJ) Andheri held the tenth convocation ceremony for students of the diploma in jewellery design and manufacturing technology.

The event was held at the D. Navinchandra Auditorium on February 14th 2017. It was attended by chief guest Premkumar Kothari, chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI), IIGJ Tardeo convenor Namita Pandya, IIGJ director Nirmal Kumar Barmecha, and IIGJ head Sanjoy Ghosh.

Ghosh congratulated the students with words of encouragement and invited them on stage to share their experience while studying at the institute.

The IIGJ Chairman’s Trophy was awarded to Shiv Chandan, while the second and third runners-up were

Hari Krishna Blood Donation Drive Collects 370 UnitsIn attendance were the guest of honour

Sanjay Potnis, Shiv Sena MLA from Kalina; Pradip Das, chief general manager of IDBI Bank; Deven Choksey, managing director of KR Choksey Shares & Security Pvt. Ltd.; and Ghanshyam Dholakia, managing director of Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd.

Dholakia noted that the blood donation drive, which collected 370 units, was organised with the aim of helping and saving lives. He said, “We have got a great response from our donors and I would like to sincerely

thank them for such a generous donation.” As a token of appreciation, the blood donors were presented with a multiplex massager, certificates and books along with their donor cards.

Oneza Chauhan and Kushali Patel respectively for their consistent performance during the course.

Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd., a leading Indian manufacturer of cut and polished diamonds, organised a blood donation drive on February 13th 2017 at The Capital, BKC, on the occasion of its fourth anniversary.

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Muthoot Exim Ventures Into Diamond Jewellery With

Divine Solitaires xim Pvt. Ltd., a part of Muthoot Pappachan Group, has expanded its Swarnavarsham brand of hallmarked gold jewellery to now include diamond jewellery in collaboration with Divine Solitaires’ Pratham diamonds.

The launch was graced by dignitaries from both Muthoot Pappachan Group and Divine Solitaires, including Muthoot Pappachan Group executive director Thomas Muthoot, Muthoot Precious Metals Division CEO Keyur Shah along with Divine Solitaires founder and managing director Jignesh Mehta, co-founder and director Shailen Mehta and director Hitesh Mehta.

Thomas Muthoot commented, “Diamonds are forever and every Indian desires to own them but many feel that it’s a luxury beyond reach. In a pioneering initiative, the Muthoot Pappachan Group through Muthoot Exim Pvt. Ltd. is now introducing an innovative offering – Swarnavarsham Diamond Jewellery with Divine Solitaires’ Pratham diamonds, which enable customers to purchase high quality diamond jewellery through easy monthly payments.”

Keyur Shah, added, “We have fulfilled aspirations of the daily wage workers and low income segment for gold jewellery through Swarnavarsham gold jewellery. In the last three years we have sold over 1 tonne of gold jewellery. It is time to offer good quality diamond jewellery to the semi-urban class. We have introduced a transparent way of selling branded diamonds at an affordable price and with a buyback offer.

E Hitesh Mehta commented that this marriage is a game changer in the world of diamonds. Through Muthoot Exim’s wide network, they would be able to take diamonds to the remotest places in India while guaranteeing good price and quality. This will improve diamond distribution in the country.

The Swarnavarsham Diamond Jewellery line will offer 18-karat gold rings studded with 0.14-carat diamonds of EF colour and VVS clarity. This ring is being offered in three sizes of 12mm, 14mm and 16mm with weight of gold as 2 gm, 2.2 gm and 2.4 gm respectively. Each diamond is later inscribed with a unique identification code and the jewellery will be sold in tamper-proof packaging and comes with a quality guarantee certificate and buyback guarantee.

Initially, Muthoot Exim’s Swarnavarsham Diamond Jewellery will be available at 76 branches of Muthoot Fincorp Ltd., which is the flagship company of Muthoot Pappachan Group, and one of the largest non-banking financial companies in India, registered with the Reserve Bank of India. The Muthoot Fincorp branches in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Madurai, Mumbai and Vijayawada will showcase the diamond jewellery in the first phase.

Customers can choose to buy the jewellery based on one-month schemes as well as through monthly instalments.

Divine Solitaire’s Jignesh Mehta noted, “Gold Jewellery has always lured masses across India because of its affordability, accessibility and transparency. In a pioneering step, Divine Solitaires have revolutionised diamond buying by introducing Pratham diamonds, an extension of Divine Solitaires in association with Muthoot Exim’s Swarnavarsham Jewellery that now provides the same affordability, accessibility and transparency while buying the best quality diamonds that go through 123 parameters. Divine Solitaires also brings in pricing transparency through its nationwide standard and transparent price list that is brought out once a month.”

The buyback of solitaire diamonds will be offered at 90% of prevailing rates and will be facilitated through Muthoot Gold Points.

Muthoot Exim will expand the line’s reach to all its 3,600 stores across the country. They also plan to add variants to the diamond jewellery by introducing new product categories like nose rings and will also offer higher caratage diamonds in the jewellery in the future.

(From left) Thomas Muthoot, Keyur Shah, Jignesh Mehta, Hitesh Mehta and Shailen Mehta at the launch.

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Statement of Ownership and Other Particulars as Required Under Rule 8 of the Registration of Newspaper

(Central) Rules, 1956.Title of Newspaper : Solitaire InternationalPeriodicity of the Publication : MonthlyLanguage in which : English it is publishedRetail Selling price of the : For free distribution to the Newspaper per copy gem and jewellery industryPlace of Publication : The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, Office No. AW 1010, Tower A, First Floor, Bharat Diamond Bourse, Next to ICICI Bank, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai – 400051Publisher’s Name : Mr. Maneck DavarNationality : IndianAddress : Spenta Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., Peninsula Spenta, Mathuradas Mill Compound, N.M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai – 400013

Editor’s Name : Mr. Maneck DavarNationality : IndianAddress : Spenta Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., Peninsula Spenta, Mathuradas Mill Compound, N.M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (W), Mumbai – 400013Name and address of : The Gem & Jewellery Export individuals who own the Promotion Council, newspaper and partners or Office No. AW 1010, Tower A, shareholders holding First Floor, Bharat Diamond Bourse, more than 1% of the Next to ICICI Bank, total capital: Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai – 400051

I, Mr. Maneck Davar, hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Mr. Maneck Davar Mumbai (sd/-) Mumbai, March 2017 Signature of Printer and Publisher

Hari Krishna Sponsors Play For A Social Cause

Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd. sponsored a play ‘Yugpurush Mahatma Na Mahatma’ on February 13th 2017 for its employees. The proceeds from the event will go towards the construction of Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital, a new 200-bed multi-speciality charity hospital in south Gujarat.

GJSCI Implements RPL Programme In SEEPZ

The Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India (GJSCI) launched the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme in SEEPZ, Mumbai, under the aegis of the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY). The RPL initiative aims to uplift karigars in the gems and jewellery industry in India; it certifies artisans who have acquired skill sets through informal learning channels and on-the-job training.

The event in Mumbai was inaugurated by N.P.S. Monga, Indian Trade Service development commissioner for SEEPZ-SEZ. Also in attendance were Gaurav Kapoor, head industry partnerships & CSR, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Rajeev Pandya, president of the Seepz Gems and Jewellery Manufacturers Association (SGJMA), Vinod Khewalkar, apprenticeship advisor, and Premkumar Kothari, chairman of GJSCI, and Binit Bhatt, CEO of GJSCI.

“Our motive is to educate and produce a skilled and certified workforce to this industry, which will not only

N.P.S Monga, Indian Trade Service development commissioner for SEEPZ-SEZ, speaking at the inauguration of the RPL programme in Mumbai.

provide them good working conditions, but also ensure physical well-being thus raising their standard of living. This certification will help the karigars to understand and enhance their expertise. We look forward to shift the core of this lucrative industry from unorganised to organised through the RPL programme,” said Kothari.

“GJSCI aims to enrol the candidates to the course by spreading awareness through industry-based career counselling. RPL so far has already trained 80,000-plus candidates and over 20,000 of them are already certified under the RPL programme conducted in different parts of the country. Mumbai, being the financial capital of India, is one of the most lucrative markets for gems and jewellery. This also indicates high number of karigars working for a number of jewellery brands. The idea behind launching RPL in Mumbai, SEEPZ, is to enable the skilled-yet-uncertified labour force of this city to gain certified formal knowledge, which is crucial for their betterment and will also help the jewellers to gauge their workforce and optimise them accordingly,” added Bhatt.

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KSS Limited Opens First Co-branded Store In MumbaiKSS Limited opened its first co-branded Cherishgold and BJewelz store in Mumbai recently. The store in Goregaon, Mumbai, is the first-of-its-kind retail and online co-branded store by KSS Limited in India. Birla Jewels Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of KSS Limited that is listed on BSE and NSE, is all set to revive the jewellery-buying experience in the country, with its unique offline and online store format.

Offering a vast and versatile collection of modern, contemporary as well as conventional

Maharashtra and Gujarat in the near future.

Satish Panchariya, group chairman, KSS Ltd., said, “The launch of the first Cherishgold - Bjewelz store in Mumbai marks our presence in the organised retail gems and jewellery business in the region. With this first-of-its-kind store, in addition to meeting the requirements of our retail jewellery clientele, we expect to not only service the customers of our online brand Cherishgold.com from the local catchment, but also present a bouquet of products through our

jewellery at affordable prices, Cherishgold - BJewelz co-branded stores are an initiative to club the infinite offerings of an online jewellery mall, and present the same to walk-in customers at a retail store and vice versa, at just a click of a button. With a clear objective of expanding its reach to the masses in the retail market, and in metro and tier 2 cities, KSS Limited intends to open 500 such co-branded stores across the length and breadth of the country with around 60 co-branded stores in

online store for the local populace.”

Nikita Rattanshi, director at Birla Jewels Ltd., added, “The launch has opened a channel for us to present our offline and online customers with artistically crafted, trendy and unique jewellery designs in a state-of-the-art retail ambiance. With a core focus on making jewellery products available at affordable prices to the masses, we look forward to enhance the overall jewellery buying experience in the country while focusing on quality and designs.”

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Lucia Silvestri, Bulgari’s Jewellery Creative Head, Wins Gem AwardLucia Silvestri, Bulgari’s jewellery creative director, received the Gem Award for Jewellery Design during the 15th Annual GEM Awards, held in January in New York. This rare and prestigious acknowledgement was to honour Silvestri’s contribution and passion in the field of gemstones.

Having grown up in and around Bulgari, Silvestri, since the age of 18, has travelled the world for precious and coloured gemstones that have become over the years the hallmark of the Roman jeweller’s most coveted pieces. Her unique creations have been featured in some of the world’s most renowned magazines.

“One of my greatest challenges as a creative director is to remain true to Bulgari’s identity and design signature, constantly reinterpreting the aesthetic codes for women that are never the same.

“To reach such excellence, I am always looking for new shapes, new creative plays, new inspirations, new gem combinations, and also there are constant efforts in the implementation of our techniques. Each artisan in the Bulgari Atelier works on one high jewellery creation at a time all day long, for a minimum of three months per piece – a perfectionist process that can take up to a year or more.”

The GEM Awards recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies whose work raises the visibility and status of fine jewellery and watches.

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Rio Tinto Hands Over Bunder Project To

MP Government

io Tinto has decided to gift the Bunder diamond project in India to the government of Madhya Pradesh after a comprehensive review. In August 2016, Rio Tinto announced it would not proceed with the

development of Bunder due to commercial considerations and would be seeking to close all project infrastructure.

Under a Madhya Pradesh government order signed in January 2017, the government will accept ownership and take on responsibility for the Bunder assets.

The inventory of assets and associated infrastructure handed over to the government comprises all land, plant, equipment and vehicles at the Bunder project site. The inventory will also include diamond samples recovered during exploration. This approach will assist the government to package the assets if it were to proceed with an auction process for the Bunder mineral rights.

Rio Tinto Copper & Diamonds chief executive Arnaud Soirat said, “Our exit from Bunder is the latest example of Rio Tinto streamlining its asset portfolio. It simplifies our business, allowing us to focus on our world-class assets.

“We believe in the value and quality of the Bunder project and support its future development, and the best way to achieve that is to hand over the assets to the government of Madhya Pradesh.

R

“Rio Tinto has long and enduring ties with India and we continue to see the nation as an important market for our metals and minerals and as a key hub for Rio Tinto’s business services.”

Rio Tinto noted that it remains committed to its diamonds business and the Indian diamond industry through its world-class underground mines, the Argyle diamond mine in Australia, and the Diavik diamond mine in Canada.

Rio Tinto continues to enjoy a strong partnership with the Indian diamond industry, with more than 250,000 diamond cutters and polishers employed in processing Rio Tinto diamonds.

First diamond samples from Rio Tinto’s Bunder diamond project, located in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, India.

Our exit from Bunder is the latest example of Rio Tinto streamlining its asset portfolio. It simplifies our business, allowing us to focus on our world-class assets.”

Nakshatra Launches www.nakshatra.world Nakshatra, an Indian jewellery retail brand, launched www.nakshatra.world to offer exclusive Nakshatra jewellery along with designer clothing by India’s top fashion designers, including Anju Modi, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Payal Pratap, Ashima Leena, Poonam Bhagat, Masaba and over 40 other celebrated fashion designers.

This platform will provide a shopping experience unmatched by any other e-commerce or brick-and-mortar outlet, as it has curated jewellery designs and fashion targeting style-conscious working women and to-be brides. Since 2000, Nakshatra jewellery has infused classical design, with contemporary elegance and glamour and for over a decade, it has been known as one of the leading jewellery brands in the country. The brand is known for its commitment to harmonise design, quality, and service. Therefore, an e-commerce shopping platform partnering with leading fashion designers to cater to the same audience was a natural business decision.

The price range of jewellery is from I10,000 and upwards and fashion apparel starts from I2,000 up to I1,50,000. The apparel line includes day-wear tops, tunics to fabulous gowns and wedding saris.

Commenting on the launch, industry pioneer Mehul Choksi, chairman, Gitanjali Gems, noted, “Nakshatra has revolutionised the branded diamond jewellery segment since the last 15 years by making superior quality diamond jewellery accessible to Indian women, and today with the launch of the e-commerce platform, we hope to bridge the gap of designer clothing along with diamonds to complete the look.”

One of India’s top fashion designers Rajesh Pratap commented, “Happy to be collaborating with Nakshatra.world. And hopefully this partnership would benefit the various weavers and craftsmen involved with the products which we happen to sell here.”

PNG Jewellers Opens Science Labs In A Village School

PNG Jewellers inaugurated science labs in the secondary school of the Ajivali village in Mawal taluka of Pune district in January. Additionally, PNG Jewellers has also constructed toilets for the primary school in Shillim village. Furthermore,

(Centre, seventh from left) Ashutosh Joshi, Vaishali Gadgil and Parag Gadgil of PNG Jewellers at the school site.

village. Considering the necessities of the villagers, a health centre was founded and a bandhara (a type of irrigation system) was also built to contribute to the development of the village.

PNG executive director Parag Gadgil, Vaishali Gadgil,

PNG Jewellers distributed sports kits in the school and a youth club in the village.

The corporate social responsibility initiative by PNG Jewellers Pvt. Ltd. was started last year in Shillim village of Mawal taluka, when they adopted the entire

Ashutosh Joshi and Harendra Godambe of the corporate social responsibility department, Mahesh Thakur, Adivasi Vikas Prabhodhini, sarpanch Tarabai Kadu and other members of the gram panchayat were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Saurabh Gadgil, CMD, PNG Jewellers Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are really delighted to announce the opening of science labs and health centres in Shillim village. Last year, we had inaugurated an e-learning centre for the Zilla Parishad High School, Shillim. All these developments will help in the overall progress of the village and its residents. We are working hard to develop required amenities of the entire village.”

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