The pair will work together to support independent retailers in India with marketing assets, training materials, and other tools.
De Beers Group and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council have partnered to promote natural diamonds in India. From left to right are Paul Rowley, executive vice president of diamond trading at De Beers Group; Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands; Vipul Shah, chairman of GJEPC; and Kirit Bhansali, vice chairman of GJEPC.
The collaboration, called the Indian Natural Diamond Retailer Alliance (INDRA), will pair De Beers’ diamond expertise with GJEPC’s understanding of the Indian market.
The partnership follows De Beers’ recent partnership with Signet Jewelers, which has the same goal in North America.
INDRA will focus on supporting independent retailers in India with tools like customizable multilingual marketing assets and in-depth natural diamond jewelry training in local languages.
The program will also provide content for retailers to promote natural diamonds in their stores. Retailers will also have access to a market intelligence portal.
The Indian gem and jewelry market is currently valued at $85 billion, said GJEPC Chairman Vipul Shah, and is expected to see “rapid growth,” projected to reach $130 billion by 2030.
“INDRA is designed to harness this momentum by tapping into India’s dynamic young population, the rise of organized players, and increasing demand across bridal, everyday wear, fashion, and entry-level jewelry,” said Shah.
“This initiative reflects a shared vision to educate stakeholders, empower retailers, and boost consumer demand, all while highlighting the timeless value of natural diamonds.”
Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of De Beers Brands, described India’s diamond growth story as “remarkable,” noting that it is the second-largest market in the world for retail sales of diamond jewelry.
“However, with its vibrant economy, growing young population, and large number of leading diamond businesses, India still holds a wealth of untapped potential,” said Conseiller.
The penetration of natural diamonds in the Indian jewelry retail sector stands at only 10 percent, she said, which is well below the rate seen in “mature” jewelry markets like the U.S.
“Through this new collaboration with the GJEPC, we will help unlock this growing opportunity for increased consumer demand for all types of natural diamond jewelry, including bridal, everyday wear, and entry-level pieces.”
GJEPC has more than 10,500 members across the Indian gem and jewelry sector, hosting three IIJS shows annually, as well as several roadshows and direct outreach activities.
Beginning this month, INDRA will host interactive roadshows where GJEPC members can enroll in the program.
Retailers can also register for the program on INDRA’s website.
Photo : De Beers Group and the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) are teaming up to promote natural diamonds in Mumbai, India
Lenore Fedow is the senior editor, news at National Jeweler, covering the retail beat and the business side of jewelry.
Source : National Jeweler
