GJ Town India

  The gold jewellery market gears up for the festive at latch!    Kavita Chacko, Research Head, India-World Gold Council [WGC] gaze the festive sentiment in India. She said, Signs of demand revival are emerging as the gold jewellery market gears up for the upcoming festive and wedding season (from early August to year-end). Anecdotal reports from industry stakeholders suggest a positive outlook. This optimism was evident at the recent India International Jewellery Show (IIJS), the country’s largest jewellery trade fair. [Reader’s Note: IIJS is the 2 nd largest global gem & jewellery show.]    As per anecdotal reports from the event, many manufacturers reported stronger-than-expected buying interest and a noticeable pickup in orders from both large chain stores and independent retailers. Retailers who had been cautious about their inventories in recent months due to lacklustre demand reported active restocking in anticipation of improved festive sales. And g...

  The ICA would not have continued to thrive over the testing times   The International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Board of Directors, led by President, Damien Cody, and was installed at the Board of Directors meeting at the ICA Congress, held in Brasilia, Brazil. “A genuine welcome to our incoming Board members” says Cody, “and a most sincere thank you to those Directors who have contributed so much to our success over the last several years and are now stepping down.”    Joining Cody are new Directors; Lucas Amelung- USA; Ashoo Sinchawla- Thailand; Himas Isab- Sri Lanka; Katherine Kovacs- Australia; Manuela Soares-Brazil; Arun Jain-India; Captain Ramji Sharma-Japan; Saurabh Bansal- Germany & Dacques Nini – USA.    Newly elected ICA Directors serve an initial two-year term and are eligible for re-election to an additional four-year term. Coming off the Board of Directors after many years of dedicated ...

  Supports bringing new talent into the bench jeweler profession   Jewelers of America (JA), the national trade association for businesses serving the fine jewelry marketplace, announced the recipients of the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship and the Jewelers of America Scholarship programs for 2025.   The Holtzman scholarship supports bringing new talent into the bench jeweler profession, while Jewelers of America scholarships are awarded to employees at JA member stores toward industry diploma, professional development, and certification programs.   This year the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship was awarded by Jewelers of America to three students: Baylor Adams at New Approach School for Jewelers; Jasmine Barros at North Bennet Street School; and Gabriella Badami at Savannah College of Art and Design. The program awarded a total of $15,000 toward their tuition at an accredited bench jeweler or metalsmith education program. "...

  Pandora maintains the guidance for 2025 of 7-8% organic growth    Pandora maintains the guidance for 2025 of 7-8% organic growth, while noting the elevated macro uncertainty. The EBIT margin guidance for 2025 is also maintained at, around 24% despite including the 60bp headwind based on current tariff levels.    Current trading in July has seen growth at around 2%. This has been negatively impacted by; a) a weak end of Season Sale and; b) the timing of product launches with Pandora Essence being launched in May 2024 while Talisman/Minis will be launched at the end of Q3 2025. Alexander Lacik, President and CEO of Pandora, says, “In these turbulent times, we are satisfied with yet another quarter of high single-digit organic growth and strong profitability. The results show that our brand and unique storytelling proposition continue to attract more consumers and that our global footprint enables us to balance ups and downs across the markets.  ...

  The Beauty of Commitment with a Marathi short film Twist   CaratLane, a Tata product and India’s leading omnichannel jewellery brand, has unveiled Bappancha Ashirwaad, its latest regional short film- following the huge success of its Teej campaign for Uttar Pradesh. With this release, the brand takes its celebrated engagement narrative to Maharashtra, strengthening its connection with the state’s culture and people.   Developed in partnership with BBH India, Bappancha Ashirwaad places a modern proposal story against the lively backdrop of local festive celebrations, while keeping the focus on the gentle encouragement that inspires couples to commit. By weaving regional flavours into a universal love story, CaratLane aims to build deeper resonance with audiences in Maharashtra. Saumen Bhaumik, Managing Director, CaratLane said, “At CaratLane, we believe that love stories are best told in the language of the heart, the mother tongue! With this ‘Bappancha Ashirwad’ fi...

  The initiative provides the tools to recruit & train qualified-skills    The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program, which provides jewelers with the tools needed to recruit and train qualified workers, has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor as the industry's first nationally recognized Registered Apprenticeship Program.    The designation enables participants to receive expert help with registering an apprenticeship program in their states, as well as with navigating the path toward available state funding (including potential tax credits). Launched in 2023 with the help of a JCK Industry Fund Grant, the program is overseen by the MJSA Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting career and training initiatives in professional jewelry making and design.  At its core is a free 50-week curriculum that mentors can use to train bench jewelers, currently one of the positions most in demand by manufacturers and retailers alik...

  Acquires a minority stake in Kitov.Ai for the gem & jewellery industry    Sarine Technologies Ltd, wishes to update the public on its closing of its acquisition of a minority stake in Kitov.ai. The purpose of this investment is the diversification of Sarine's focus to additional industries, also considering the current challenges the diamond jewellery industry faces.    Being a company engaged in technologies similar to those employed by Sarine, thus speaking the same language, Kitov.ai provides the Group with the means to diversify into new fields separate from the diamond industry.    Kitov.ai has many industry-leading customers in many varied industries including aerospace, defense, electronics, medical devices, energy control, consumer products and others, in the U.S., Europe, the Far East and Israel. The concluded deal includes an initial cash investment of US$ 4.1 million in consideration of a just over 33% stake in Kitov.ai, paid in part t...