India International Jewellery Show Diary
June 03, 06
By Himja Parekh
Thursday, May 4, 2006, Opening Day
In Mumbai, the temperature is soaring almost as much as the price of gold as the IIJS opens. The exhibition is divided into areas for couture jewelry, mass produced jewelry, loose diamonds and colored stones, gold jewelry, the allied section, and machinery.
An interesting addition this year is the fashion Bistro – a new concept that combines fine dining with showcasing jewelry. If you want to enjoy a variety of cuisines with a glass of beer or wine and watch the models strut on the ramp, the bistro is the place to be. Orra, a retail brand from the house of leading diamantaires Rosy Blue started the proceedings at the Bistro.
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Many visitors from overseas, who are here sourcing jewelry or on the lookout for potential partners, feel that the Indian jewelry sector is also gaining in importance and is growing by leaps and bounds. Colored stones seem to be a huge attraction, but the big question remains – will the price of gold affect business?
Friday, May 5, Day 2
The halls still seem to be on the empty side. If past shows are anything to go by, however, there is no reason to fret yet. The mood is still optimistic and hopeful.
There is an interesting mix of people, with buyers from
The seminars today included gold hedging and futures trading; successful branded jewelry stores in
Saturday May 6, Day 3
The day started on a gloomy note. The exhibitors are upset –two days have passed with very little business. Many say they have received a good response and a lot of inquires, but conversions are still far away. Fortunately things picked up and by the end of the day there were even a few smiles to be seen.
At the Bistro, D’damas and P&S exports set the ramp ablaze with their creations.
Sunday May 7, Day 4
The halls today seem to be more packed. Many exhibitors say business has been good for them but others comment that it has been very bad. According to a leading market research agency conducting a survey of the event, their results rate the event as satisfactory.
In terms of footfalls, the general consensus seems to be quality over quantity. While the event may not have pulled in a big crowd, many exhibitors said they have gained new clients apart from their existing clientele. The unhappiest retailers are those who do most of their business selling to the end consumer and are complaining that the steep entry fee has been a deterrent.
In all likelihood, next year’s show will be moved to July, which is definitely a better time to do business. At that time of year, the show translates to lots of on the spot orders rather than enquiries for later purchases.
Interestingly, the hall that has done good business is the machinery section. This should come as no surprise in a situation where rising gold prices compel manufacturers to turn to increasingly effective and economic means of production.
Today the Bistro saw the launch of a new line of men’s jewelry and accessories by Adora from M.Suresh. The launch had the leading scions of the jewelry industry walking the ramp for a charitable cause in front of a full house.
Monday May 8, Closing Day
It's the last day of the show. Last night, the Solitaire awards honored exhibitors in the categories of couture, daily wear, and plain gold jewelry, but today the halls seem a little empty again.
Overall, the show has enjoyed a highly improved level of infrastructure with more overseas participation, which is set to increase next year with bigger Thai and Sri Lankan pavilions and with a keen interest generated by the Belgians.
A talk with various exhibitors indicates innovation and design as a trump card. The reality is that the domestic season is far away, JCK Vegas is just around the corner, and metal prices are at a record high. Keeping this in mind, the jewelers who have innovated and created a lot of feather light jewelry at low price points have enjoyed a good show.