The lights in the Megapolis of Mumbai are constantly glowing with flashes of glittering fires that rival the stars themselves as jewellery manufacturers and designers try to outdo each other in various events in different parts of the city.
The Royal Opera House in Mumbai played host to a different audience recently as the stars in India’s designer jewellery firmament highlighted their glittering offerings in the futuristic themed “Enchanted Cosmos” event that witnessed the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) presenting Artisan Jewellery Design Awards 2019 in Mumbai recently.
Noting the Indian Gem & Jewellery industry’s 5,000-year-old history in which Rajas and Maharajas supported this art, Pramod Kumar Agrawal, Chairman, GJEPC, said this industry today accounts for US$ 42 billion annually while contributing around 7% to India’s GDP and employing over 5 million people.
He said it was time that the world became aware about India’s jewellery design potential and portrayed the country as a “Design Destination” for jewellery
The event was graced by Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari, where the grand finale highlighted winners from over 550 entries and 23 shortlisted sketches on basis of predefined parameters like; Design Aesthetocs, Wearability, Innovation, relevance to Theme & makeability/Manufacturing.
Colin Shah, Vice-Chairman, GJEPC, said India’s importance in the global jewellery design context could be viewed historically in the creations of Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Harry Winston for the Maharajas and Nawabs.
Paola De Luca of ‘The Futurists’ said India is reclaiming its global stature as a leading pioneer in luxury jewellery design and the “AATMAN – Inspirations 2020’ handbook on jewellery trends would inspire the new generation of Indian creative leaders by providing a blueprint for key design trends through raising topical issues affecting the diamond industry, and presenting an illustrated history of India’s early prominence in design.
In another event that was literally dripping diamonds, beautiful women vied with glittering baubles and colourful clothing in catching the eyes of the beholders seeking the best of these for celebrations like weddings etc.
Jewellery wholesaler Suhana Taneja from Gurgaon, who highlighted her ‘Kimayas Collection’ featuring exquisite jewellery whose prices ranged from Rs one lakh to skyhigh, noted that Bollywood star Anil Kapoor’s wife wore her ‘Polki’ jewellery creation. “Transparency ensures good business,” she said while describing the event as her fourth participation with good business generated in the past three years.
