The De Beers forum is one of the most awaited events in a retail jeweller’s calendar as Diamonds are synonymous with De Beers in India

Saurabh Gadgil, PNG Jewellers, Pune, speaks to Samit Bhatta, publisher, of The Retail Jeweller India magazine, about his expectations at the De Beers Forevermark Forum

1. The De Beers Forevermark Forum 2022 is coming soon and this year is extraordinary as they celebrate the 75th year of their “A diamond is forever” tagline. How has your association been with them with their Code of Origin programme and others?

• De Beers has been like a family to us at PNG jewellers for the last several years as they have been a part of our ever-shining diamond journey, since the very beginning. From sourcing to displaying and collecting to selling, De Beers has always been our first choice. By selling Forevermark diamonds, displaying their sensational collections and using Code of Origin certification, our journey with them has been mutually beneficial and highly rewarding. Our story with De Beers has grown a great deal and we look forward to grow even stronger as the years go by.   

• What are your expectations from the forum?

• The De Beers Forevermark forum is one of the most awaited events in a jeweller’s calendar, especially when it comes to diamond jewellery. Diamonds and De Beers are synonyms to each other. In India, when we want to buy diamonds, De Beers is the first name that comes to our mind. The tagline, “Diamonds are forever” has been very relevant in the case of India as we Indians treasure things that are eternal and which last forever. I think the forum like every year will be a combination of information, exchange of modern ideas, and emerging trends with endless bonding and sharing between fellow jewellers and manufacturers. This year’s forum is going to be exceptional as all the dignitaries from De Beers will be present. The session will be very enthusiastic with discussions on new age A.I, evolving cryptocurrency, NFTs and their effect on the jewellery industry in India and Pan India. Business heads from major jewellery companies will come together to share their inspiring stories and celebrate the good work done by the jewellers in this prestigious industry. It will be an enriching experience to know how the brand De Beers was created and what all it took to reach the top of the success ladder. India has done astonishingly well this year in diamonds and wedding jewellery and prerogatives like Forevermark and Code of Origin certification are giving us an opportunity to take this initiative to a higher level. I am very excited to attend this year’s forum and am looking forward to meeting the CEO and CFO of De Beers respectively.

• What are your views on the business as it is progressing this financial year for De Beers Forevermark, and diamonds as a whole?

• India plays a major role in the business when De Beers is concerned. First, we saw China and USA take over the market but this is the Indian decade as the industry continues to prosper on a large scale.

Courtesy: Retail Jeweller India News