Gems, jewellery exports surge to Rs 25,226 cr in April: GJEPC

 The demand for gem and jewellery is back in major export markets, as the overall shipments of gems and jewellery surged to Rs 25,226.11 crore year-on-year in April 2021, according to Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC).

The overall gems and jewellery exports stood at Rs 273.41 crore during April 2020, when India as well as the major export markets were going through lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19, GJEPC data showed.

Exports of cut and polished diamonds (CPD) in April grew to Rs 16,538.84 crore as compared to Rs 261.19 crore in April 2020.

Gold jewellery shipments surged to Rs 5,060.23 crore compared to Rs 1.55 crore a year ago.

Silver jewellery exports rose to Rs 2,240.13 crore from just Rs 5.05 crore in April 2020.

Similarly, exports of coloured gemstone in April increased to Rs 163.66 crore against Rs 4.13 crore.

The gem and jewellery exports in April in comparison to the pre-pandemic year of April 2019 have outperformed. The reason why India managed to export Rs 25,226.11 crore despite the ongoing second wave of the pandemic was unlike last time, this time there was no national lockdown imposed and in almost all our manufacturing locations, activity for export has been facilitated by the government,” GJEPC Chairman Colin Shah said.

The key export markets have opened for economic and social activities and the industry is receiving good orders from these major export markets, he noted.

“Even the SEZs dedicated for gems and jewellery exports have been operational and are able to cater to the growing demand, especially in the US, UAE and China, Shah added.

Silver Jewelry Trend Goes in Good Combination

Women, while choosing clothes definitely give a thought to accessories, shoes, jewelry and handbags that will suit her look. However, the fact cannot be denied that jewelry takes the first step. The jewelry fashion in the recent decades has increased significantly. They have gained a lot of attention for having a very reasonable price, besides it has acquired worldwide attention for its fine work, beauty and the ability to carry adornments without much worry on holidays and in everyday life.

General trends in the trend of jewelry show equalization in both, silver and gold. The silver need is increasing with each passing day. Today, silver has become a must to have metal. This is confirmed in the runways and fashion shows of popular high brands also revealing silver. The upcoming season is expected to come glamorous with powerful and confident creations; most may be inspired even by the silver screen.

The beauty of jewelry is when it is in combination with black and dark blue shades. In the silver jewelry you can add blue stones or use sapphire, lapis lazuli or tanzanite and with black include a pearl, diamond, jasper or amber. The luxury fashion trend of the modern society is focusing on brightness and fashion that it is replacing the simplicity with elegance. Honestly, these precious stones in combination with silver look extremely beautiful that it cannot go unnoticed.

Silver looks in accord with diamonds. This jewelry light colors attach very special that the beauty and shine looks best. The jewelry can also be worn in the day time. The most agreeable part is that diamonds not only go very well with silver, but it also makes the wearer look youthful. The silver’s lightness and the diamond’s sparkle add freshness to your look.

Women, while choosing clothes definitely give a thought to accessories, shoes, jewelry and handbags that will suit her look. However, the fact cannot be denied that jewelry takes the first step. The jewelry fashion in the recent decades has increased significantly. They have gained a lot of attention for having a very reasonable price, besides it has acquired worldwide attention for its fine work, beauty and the ability to carry adornments without much worry on holidays and in everyday life.

General trends in the trend of jewelry show equalization in both, silver and gold. The silver need is increasing with each passing day. Today, silver has become a must to have metal. This is confirmed in the runways and fashion shows of popular high brands also revealing silver. The upcoming season is expected to come glamorous with powerful and confident creations; most may be inspired even by the silver screen.

The beauty of jewelry is when it is in combination with black and dark blue shades. In the silver jewelry you can add blue stones or use sapphire, lapis lazuli or tanzanite and with black include a pearl, diamond, jasper or amber. The luxury fashion trend of the modern society is focusing on brightness and fashion that it is replacing the simplicity with elegance. Honestly, these precious stones in combination with silver look extremely beautiful that it cannot go unnoticed.

Silver looks in accord with diamonds. This jewelry light colors attach very special that the beauty and shine looks best. The jewelry can also be worn in the day time. The most agreeable part is that diamonds not only go very well with silver, but it also makes the wearer look youthful. The silver’s lightness and the diamond’s sparkle add freshness to your look.

Modern jewelry comes in rich selection and this offers the opportunity to select appropriate products to suit any of your outfit. A strict suit is sure to look great with geometric shapes in silver. On the other hand for romantic expressions consider looking for small round accessories. Wearing several adornments is possible in silver jewelry as they are affordable and they also go proper with your clothing. The silver in large bulky collection completes a passionate femme fatale.

The silver products feature magical properties right from ancient times. It also has the added advantage of curing diseases. This metal in ancient times was considered sacred as it was observed as a moon’s reflection. The silver jewelry given to newborn children were done with purpose and this was to wish happiness, health and wealth. The young girl’s happiness is also with silver jewelry as they can stay free without worries.

Silver is useful in many forms, necklaces to medallions, large earrings to bracelets featuring engraving and black inserts making perfect accompaniment in ethnic style to the national costume. A phalanx ring set is a fashionable jewelry that is fragile and delicate that it will make you appear really stylish. This jewelry in silver is appearing on the famous fashionistas hands, you also can always give a try.

Jewellery purchases still a ‘vital part’ of life for consumers post-pandemic

 

New research suggests that the jewellery market can expect a strong post-pandemic financial recovery as consumers still want to purchase “precious jewellery” pieces for themselves and loved ones.

Despite a difficult 2020 due to the global pandemic, a recent survey from Platinum Guild International (PGI) promises positive sentiment within the industry and a strong indication of robust demand for precious jewellery in the coming year.

The survey interviewed over 2,000 jewellery buyers and wearers aged from 18 to 65 around the world.

The results showed three promising factors among consumers: greater confidence for spending, a stronger appetite for precious jewellery, and increasing market demand driven by non-bridal jewellery.

Huw Daniel, chief executive officer of PGI, said: “Despite the global pandemic that has changed our daily lives, precious jewellery remains a vital part of marking special events and milestones and showing appreciation for loved ones.

“Overall consumer sentiment has improved across major markets and most consumers have a positive feeling about their country’s economic future as well as their personal finances.”

The purchase of non-bridal jewellery remains strong for China, India and the US, with more than half of respondents having purchased such items in the past year, the survey revealed.

Within the non-bridal category, self-purchase is driven by women aged 18-45 while gifting is driven by men aged 31-45.

Meanwhile, discussing platinum jewellery specifically, Zhenzhen Liu, director of global corporate marketing at PGI, said: “Platinum already enjoys a high degree of preference in Japan and China and has been growing in India and the US.

“We believe that consumers choose to buy platinum jewellery not only because it holds superior qualities, but also because it is usually associated with commemorating life-changing milestones and celebrating important achievements and rare moments.”

A Diamond Necklace of Cosmic Proportions.

 The interaction of two doomed stars has created this spectacular ring adorned with bright clumps of gas — a diamond necklace of cosmic proportions. Fittingly known as the Necklace Nebula, this planetary nebula is located 15,000 light-years away from Earth in the small, dim constellation of Sagitta (The Arrow).

The Necklace Nebula — which also goes by the less glamorous name of PN G054.2-03.4 — was produced by a pair of tightly orbiting Sun-like stars. Roughly 10,000 years ago, one of the aging stars expanded and engulfed its smaller companion, creating something astronomers call a “common envelope.” The smaller star continued to orbit inside its larger companion, increasing the bloated giant’s rotation rate until large parts of it spun outwards into space. This escaping ring of debris formed the Necklace Nebula, with particularly dense clumps of gas forming the bright “diamonds” around the ring.

The pair of stars which created the Necklace Nebula remain so close together — separated by only a few million kilometers — that they appear as a single bright dot in the center of this image. Despite their close encounter the stars are still furiously whirling around each other, completing an orbit in just over a day. 

The Necklace Nebula was featured in a previously released Hubble image (above), but now this new image (top) has been created by applying advanced processing techniques, making for a new and improved view of this intriguing object. The composite image includes several exposures from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3.

Buying gold? You must know these things about Hallmarking

 

Hallmarking is the determination and recording of the proportion of precious metal content in an artefact or piece of jewellery

If the ongoing pandemic is making you double down on investments in precious metals, there’s some good news for you. Last year, the government had issued an order stating that only gold and silver jewellery and artefacts that are hallmarked can be sold from January 1, 2021. After being postponed, this rule is now to set come into effect from June 1.

What is it?

Hallmarking is the determination and recording of the proportion of precious metal content in an artefact or piece of jewellery. The hallmark measures and tells you the extent of actual gold or silver content that is present in an article that you’re buying. This is done in Assaying and Hallmarking (A&H) centres which are present across the country. The jeweller seeking to hallmark his wares submits them to A&H centres where the testing is done. If found to meet the requirements of the standard, a hallmark symbol is applied.

In India, the hallmark symbol will certify the purity and fineness of precious metal articles in accordance with standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which is the national quality-setting body. The Indian standard specifies three grades for hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts — 14 Carat (K), 18 Carat and 22 Carat. And it specifies six grades for hallmarking of silver jewellery and artefacts — 990, 970, 925, 900, 835 and 800. For hallmarking of gold bullion and coins, a refinery or a mint needs to obtain a licence.

Why is it important?

Although gold and silver can be bought in several ways, in India, jewellery is the most common way of buying these precious metals. Indians are estimated to own over 25,000 tonnes of gold. But the actual worth of all this wealth locked up in gold is uncertain as jewellery purchases in India have traditionally been beset by low caratage. When the new regulations kick in, this will change as jewellers will be mandated to sell only hallmarked jewellery. If you buy gold or silver jewellery or artefacts with the BIS mark, you can be sure of the stated caratage.

The hallmark consists of four components for gold: purity, fineness, assaying centre’s identification mark and jeweller’s identification mark. Purity and fineness are represented through a symbol that combines cartage and purity. For instance, the symbol 22K916 means that the item is made of 22 carat gold and 91.6 grams of gold per 100 grams of jewellery. However, the jewellery or artefacts you buy are seldom made of 24 carat gold. This is because 24 carat gold is too malleable to be converted to jewellery; copper or silver are usually alloyed with it to craft jewellery or artefacts, making 22 carat or 18 carat the normal standard of purity for such items.

For silver, the hallmark consists of three components — fineness, assaying centre’s identification mark and jeweller’s identification mark. If the fineness is 990, it indicates that the item has 99 gm of silver per 100 gm of the jewellery.

Why should I care?

With hallmarking being optional currently, jewellers and vendors of artefacts adopt it selectively. Only 40 per cent of the jewellery sold in India is estimated to be hallmarked currently. This has paved the way for jewellers passing off lower quality 18K gold as 22K gold. This comes back to bite you as you try to exchange old gold for new or to monetise your physical bullion holdings.

Come June 1, 2021, the caratage issues associated with jewellery may abate as hallmarking becomes mandatory. If you are unsure of the purity, jewellery can be tested at any A&H centre where testing will be undertaken, and a report issued. In case hallmarked jewellery is found to be of lesser purity, the testing charges will be refunded, and the jeweller is obliged to replace the item.

The bottomline

Without hallmarking, all that glitters is literally not gold.

Neha Marda utilises her experience of jewellery designing for her show

 Neha Marda, who is seen as Shubhra in Zee TV’s show Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti, will be seen taking up jewellery designing as her profession in the show. Coincidently, jewellery designing happens to be her real passion and profession. Neha has a diploma in jewellery designing and has professionally designed jewellery too. While the actress is unable to devote that kind of time now and has a team to manage her clients, Neha occasionally takes out time to pursue this passion of hers.

Sharing her excitement, Neha said, “My character is transitioning from a housewife to a jewellery designer, which is the most amazing coincidence that could happen. While not many people are aware of it, I pursue jewellery designing in real life too. The moment I read about my character’s profession I literally jumped with excitement and told the director and producer of the show Arvind Babbal about my hands-on experience with this profession. Frankly, it is an opportunity to portray this side of my character since I know all about designing.” SHARE ARTICLE

Tiffany is selling men’s engagement rings for the first time

 Tiffany & Co. announced Friday the debut of its first-ever men’s engagement ring, as it looks to tap into a new market for its high-end jewelry amid a rise in same-sex marriages globally and gender-fluid fashion trends.

The retailer, now owned by the luxury products group LVMH, has named the new line after the company’s founder, Charles Lewis Tiffany. The rings feature round-brilliant and emerald-cut diamonds that measure up to 5 carats.

Tiffany said its aspiration for the men’s engagement line was to offer products in support of love and inclusivity, while “paving the way for new traditions to celebrate our unique love stories and honor our most cherished commitments to one another.”

In 1886, Tiffany introduced its first solitaire diamond engagement ring for women. For decades since, couples have visited the jeweler’s stores around the world in search of engagement rings for women, as well as wedding rings. But Tiffany is looking to change that, as it embraces a new wave of couples more than a century later.

The design of the men’s ring is a departure from the traditional wedding band, since it features a striking center diamond, Tiffany said.

And with the new offering, Tiffany hopes it can find another solid stream of revenue growth. The company did more than $4 billion in jewelry sales last year, with women’s engagement rings representing about 26% of total revenue.

The French group and Louis Vuitton-owner LVMH completed its $15.8 billion acquisition of Tiffany in early January, following a bitter legal dispute. When LVMH reported its first-quarter financial results earlier this month, it said its watches and jewelry division’s sales rose by 138%, benefiting from the consolidation of Tiffany.

Starting next month, Tiffany said the men’s engagement rings will be available at select stores globally. They’re already available for sale online.