Debut triumphs: First-time winners steal the show at the 19th FURA Retail Jeweller India Awards

The 19th edition of the Retail Jeweller India Awards marked a turning point, recognising designs from across India’s diverse retail landscape

Mumbai: The 19th FURA Retail Jeweller India Awards was a night of many firsts, as a new wave of creativity and innovation swept the stage with debut victories from jewellers across the country. This year, the spotlight shone brightly on first-time winners, whose passion and dedication propelled them to the forefront of the industry, earning top honours in several prestigious categories.

Khimji Jewellers, a well-established name in Odisha, won the TV Campaign of the Year award. Mitesh Khimji, Director of Khimji Jewellers, expressed his heartfelt gratitude: “Our ad ‘No Compromise’, which garnered a record 4 million views on YouTube, is a testament to the hard work of our marketing team. This award is dedicated to Khimji Dayabhai, the Founder of Khimji Jewellers, and the people of Odisha.”

In a digital age where social media has become a critical tool for brands, Kisna Diamond & Gold Jewellery from Mumbai made its mark as a first-time winner by clinching the Social Media Contest of the Year award. Director Parag Shah emphasised how the award recognises Kisna’s understanding of today’s digital landscape. “We are delighted to receive this award. It is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to understanding the needs of today’s young generation,” said Shah.

Omara Fine Jewellery from Chandigarh joined the ranks of first-time winners by earning the award for Precious Coloured Gemstone Earrings of the Year. Founder Samarth Jaiswal dedicated the win to his wife Ishani Mehta Jaiswal, the Founder and Head Designer at Omara, whose hard work and vision brought them this prestigious recognition. “I would like to dedicate this award to my wife for pushing and motivating us to create exemplary pieces. She is the Head Designer at Omara. So, in a way, I am receiving this award on her behalf,” Jaiswal shared.

Similarly, Director Paresh Mandaliya from Aaloki by CH expressed his joy at securing their first award in the same category (a tie) of Precious Coloured Gemstone Earrings of the Year: “Winning today feels incredibly inspiring. It motivates us to continue creating new art,” said Mandaliya.

Another notable victory came from Gehna Jewellers of Gwalior, which won the Precious Coloured Gemstone Ring of the Year award. The brand’s Director, Ajay Mangal, reflected on the significance of this achievement: “This feels like the gold standard in jewellery awards for me. I dedicate this win to my team, family, and parents.”

Sona Chandi Jewellers from Haldwani made a remarkable impression by winning the Men’s Jewellery of the Year award. This victory is a milestone for the brand and a testament to the growing pool of retailers who believe in creating high jewellery design benchmarks outside India’s major cities. Director Nakul Bansal from Sona Chandi Jewellers shared, “It is a moment of pride to have won this award. We participated in several categories and are thrilled to have our hard work recognised.”

Similarly, Sagarmal Jewellers from Patna clinched the prestigious Bridal Polki Jewellery of the Year award, underscoring the awards’ inclusivity and commitment to celebrating excellence. “It feels fantastic. I dedicate this award to my team and our supplier, who provides us with the beautiful designs that we are known for,” said Director Ankit Agarwal from Sagarmal Jewellers.

Lucknow-based AJB Fine Jewels also celebrated a significant first by winning the Gold Earrings of the Year award for their rebranded identity. “This award is a wonderful recognition of our efforts during our first year of rebranding. It feels like winning the gold standard in jewellery, and I dedicate this to our hard-working team,” shared Director Umang Agarwal.

The luxury brand ZOYA – A TATA Product emerged victorious in the Diamond Earrings of the Year category. Their team was thrilled to have their design language and craftsmanship recognised at India’s oldest awards platform. Head of Design Sangeeta Dewan from Zoya expressed, “Design is getting recognised in the industry. As a designer, I find it a fulfilling feeling. Professionally, I think it is a very happy moment for the brand. It validates the high level of design we strive to achieve.”

The Retail Jeweller India Awards 2024 not only saw many first-time winners from significant brands and family jewellers but also saw past winners like C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers from Bengaluru shine brighter. The brand achieved a remarkable feat, winning two awards in bridal categories: Bridal Gold Jewellery of the Year and Bridal Diamond Jewellery of the Year.

Product Development Manager Bhuvaneshwari Gopal dedicated the Bridal Gold Jewellery of the Year award to the brand’s MD and Director Vinod Hayagriv. Speaking about the brand’s winning piece in the Bridal Diamond Jewellery category, Head of Design Megha Saigal Beri shared, “This necklace took about four to five months to create, from concept to finished piece. If you look closely at the necklace, you will see it is like a bed of diamonds. You will not see the metal or the prongs anywhere.”

This year’s Retail Jeweller India Awards celebrated many retailers who joined the elite circle of excellence for the first time. The winners’ achievements from smaller cities like Haldwani, Patna, and Gwalior show that great design and craftsmanship need not necessarily emerge from metro cities.

The future of India’s jewellery industry is more exciting and diverse than ever, inspiring the next generation of jewellers to push boundaries and strive for excellence. As a platform that celebrates the breadth of talent nationwide, it presents an opportunity for jewellers to showcase their design prowess regardless of their business scale and origin.

Here’s the complete list of winners: https://retailjewellerindiaawards.com/winners-nominees/

Written by Pooja Mujumdar
Retail Jeweller India Exclusive