GJ Town India

  Global jewellery demand faces a subdued outlook in 2025     Recently World Gold Council analysed jewellery demand in the recently published Gold Demand Trends for 2Q 2025. Jewellery retailers in China are likely to face an equally glum H2. One silver lining perhaps is that platinum is unlikely to offer much of a challenge, given the sensitivity to its strong price rise.    Another is that high savings rates might offer some capacity to buy in H2, but probably needs stimulus and a brighter outlook for 2026 and beyond. In India, the economy is still vibrant but is expected to soften a little in H2. Combined with high prices, jewellery demand will likely remain subdued as consumers are anecdotally adapting less quickly to high prices than they have historically.    This theme is likely echoed in other regions. Flat or lower prices won't elicit the same response one might see in an environment where disposable income is solid. Thus, our expec...

  Hallmarking officials & stakeholders participated in the event   BIS Bengaluru Branch Office, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, successfully organized the Assaying & Hallmarking Centres Meet and Jewellers Meet on 20th August 2025 at Bengaluru.    The event was conducted in two sessions - the morning session for Assaying & Hallmarking Centres (AHCs) and the afternoon session for Jewellers Associations. The meet brought together hallmarking officials, jewellers, and stakeholders from across the Southern Region to discuss developments, challenges, and future initiatives in hallmarking.    The programme began with a welcome address by Dr. Meenakshi Ganesan, Deputy Director General (Southern Region) SRO, Chennai highlighted the importance of hallmarking in safeguarding consumer trust and ensuring quality standards the gold jewellery sector. She also appreciated the AHCs and jewellers for the...

  India’s natural diamond polishing industry faces a steep hill    According to Crisil Ratings, India’s natural diamond polishing industry faces a steep 28-30% fall in revenues to ~$12.50 billion this fiscal, compared with $16 billion last fiscal, after the imposition of 50% tariffs (25% reciprocal plus 25% penalty) by the US. The blow will follow a ~40% degrowth over the past three fiscals because of a fall in both prices and sales volume of natural diamonds as demand in the US and China dropped, and competition from lab-grown diamonds rose.    The 50% tariffs, effective this week, makes exports to the US tough for two reasons: one, the industry’s low margins make absorption of the incremental levy very difficult and two, declining demand means passing on the incremental burden to consumers will not be easy. The consequent reduced operating leverage could erode the operating margin of diamond polishers by 50-100 basis points and pressurise their credit profiles...

GFCE bounced back, registering 9.7% growth rate during Q1   The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) report that the Quarterly Estimates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the April-June Quarter (Q1) of Financial Year (FY) 2025-26 along with its Expenditure components both at Constant (2011-12) and Current Prices.    Quarterly Estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA) at Basic Prices for various economic sectors along with Year-on-Year percent changes, Expenditure components of GDP for Q1 of the FY 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.    According to the key takeaways of the MoSPI, 1: Real GDP has been estimated to grow by 7.8% in Q1 of FY 2025-26 over the growth rate of 6.5% during Q1 of FY 2024-25. 2: Nominal GDP has witnessed a growth rate of 8.8% in Q1 of FY 2025-26.    3: Agriculture and Allied Sector has observed the Real GVA growth rate of 3.7%, as compared to the growth rate of 1.5%...

  Considers unified sustainability agenda for jewellery industry   With fewer than nine weeks to go to the opening of the 2025 CIBJO Congress in Paris, France, on October 27, 2025, the second of the pre-congress Special Reports has been released. Prepared by the CIBJO Sustainable Development Commission, headed by John Mulligan, it considers both challenges and solutions for devising a unified sustainability agenda for the jewellery industry and its supply chains, which are very diverse in terms of their geography, product categories and the capacities of companies working within them.   “As the global jewellery industry grapples with the complex challenges of responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, stalled socio-economic development, and inequalities of opportunity, the need for a broadly agreed, collaborative approach to sustainability has never been more urgent,” writes Mulligan.   “Fragmentation across geographies, supply chains, and business models has l...

  Suggesting urgent policy drive can mitigate the tariff shocks    Colin Shah, Founder and Managing Director of Kama Jewelry suggested his perspectives to mitigate the Tariff shocks. India’s product exports to the U.S. are at risk, with estimates indicating a possible reduction this year to $49.6 billion from close to $87 billion in 2024–25 since two-thirds of value exports to the U.S. will be subject to 50% tariffs.    This threatens India's gems and jewelry industry specially, as America is its largest market, worth over $10 billion driving almost 30% of the industry's entire global trade. Exports to America could drop by more than 50% since these tariffs are put in effect, risking both revenues and jobs in major manufacturing clusters.    A comprehensive urgent policy drive can mitigate the tariff shocks confronting India's gems and jewelry sector, safeguard jobs and maintain its world leadership. USA tariff headwinds have threatened the Indian natu...

  Motswedi, a water spring or source in Setswana language of Botswana    In July 2025, staff from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), including GIA Executive Vice President and Chief Research and Laboratory Officer Tom Moses and Vice President of Research and Development Dr. Wuyi Wang, examined a rough diamond weighing 2,488.32 carats—nearly 1.10 pounds (0.498 kilograms)—at the Institute’s laboratory in Gaborone, Botswana.     “This is undoubtedly a diamond of great historical importance,” said Tom Moses. “I have been fortunate to examine many significant, large and very rare diamonds, but I have never seen a gem quality diamond of nearly this size.”     Recovered in August 2024 by the Lucara Diamond Corporation at the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana, this diamond is second in size only to the legendary 3,106-carat Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa 120 years ago.  Weighing 2,492 carats at recovery and generally ...

  DDG hosted 2025 Awards gala honoring global leaders   Diamonds Do Good (DDG) is celebrating a summer of milestones that highlight the positive global impact of natural diamonds. In June, DDG hosted its sold-out 2025 Awards Gala in Las Vegas, honoring industry leaders and community champions, including Claudia Cividino of Jared, Tanishq, Sissy’s Log Cabin, and Govind Dholakia.   The evening opened with powerful remarks from Honorable Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, who underscored the life-changing role diamonds play in her country’s development and prosperity.  Building on this momentum, DDG in August announced the 10 winners of its 4th Annual Entrepreneurship Grant Program, a beneficiary initiative funded by the support of the industry from the Diamonds Do Good Awards.    The top prize of $20,000 went to Tshireletso Seoromeng (Botswana), with $10,000 awarded to Jerusa Kitoto (Tanzania). Eight additional entrepre...

  Pure Platinum with designs is more than a festive purchase   Onam is a season defined by abundance- of joy, togetherness, and new beginnings. It is a time when choices reflect thoughtfulness, where compromise feels out of place. For jewellery that carries this spirit, platinum stands apart: a metal of unmatched rarity and preciousness, offering value beyond compare through its high purity standards, longevity, modern design language, and uniquely favourable pricing.    Crafted in 95% pure platinum, its jewellery retains its sheen and natural white colour, symbolising purity and enduring strength. At a moment when consumers are seeking jewellery that feels both contemporary and lasting, platinum answers with designs that are versatile, distinctive, and deeply meaningful.  From the bold, resilient creations of Men of Platinum to the graceful expressions of Platinum Evara, and the enduring markers of commitment in Platinum Love Bands, every piece tells ...

  D-to-Z LGDs laboratory services until September 30   GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, will launch revised evaluation services for D-to-Z laboratory-grown diamonds on October 1. Current GIA laboratory services for D-to-Z laboratory-grown diamonds will be available until September 30.    “Using descriptive terms for the quality of laboratory-grown diamonds is appropriate as most fall into a very narrow range of color and clarity,” said Pritesh Patel, GIA president and CEO. “Because of that, GIA will no longer use the nomenclature created for natural diamonds to describe what is a manufactured product.”    The GIA Laboratory-Grown Diamond Quality Assessment will use descriptive terms rather than the GIA-developed nomenclature for natural diamonds. The laboratory-grown diamonds will be described as ‘Premium’ or ‘Standard’ based on an overall assessment of their clarity, color and cut. Any diamond that does not meet all the minimum crit...

  7th September, presentation of the Trendbook 2027+   Trends, styles and previews of the socio-cultural and market scenarios will feature at the coming edition of Vicenzaoro September, Italian Exhibition Group’s international gold and jewellery show, scheduled to take place from 5th to 9th September at the Vicenza’s Expo Centre - Italy.    Presenting them will be Trendvision Jewellery + Forecasting, Vicenzaoro’s independent observatory, directed by Paola De Luca, during two highly anticipated events. On Saturday 6th September, the Vicenzaoro public will be taken to the quantum era of jewellery thanks to interventions from international artists, designers, journalists and cultural consultants.    Sunday 7th September, on the other hand, will see the presentation of the new Trendbook 2027+, the Manifesto book for all professionals, abounding with content and strategies for developing future collections and previews of contemporary jewellery’s evo...

  Precious metals were further supported by political uncertainties   Dr. Renisha Chainani, Head- Research, Augmont released the report for the Week [18 August to 22 August] & said, gold gained positive traction and surged beyond $3400 to close the week up 1% on a solid foundation. With a 3% gain, silver outperformed its golden counterpart, causing prices to rise above the psychologically significant $39 mark. In contrast to isolated volatility, this convergence points to continuous momentum.    Markets were expecting a dovish tone from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's much-anticipated speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium, which caused major swings in the currency and commodity markets. Powell gave traders the security they needed about the direction of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy with his well-chosen wording, especially by indicating that interest rate cuts are probably going to start next month.    Powell has hinted at a rat...