A night of brilliance: The 19th FURA Retail Jeweller India Awards light up Mumbai

The event, a dazzling celebration of India’s finest jewellery, saw esteemed jury members, including Sudha Reddy, Michelle Poonawalla, Nawaz Modi Singhania, and Jaya Raheja, in attendance

Mumbai: On August 10th, at the Hotel Sahara Star in Mumbai, the jewellery industry’s most anticipated event of the year took place—the 19th FURA Retail Jeweller India Awards. This prestigious annual event continues to set the gold standard for recognising exquisite craftsmanship and innovative design in the Indian jewellery industry.

FURA, a global precious coloured gemstone mining company that launched in India last year, was the presenting partner of these awards. FURA offers origin-certified emeralds, rubies, and sapphires to the Indian market, aiming to make precious coloured gemstones more accessible while ensuring traceability through certificates of origin.

For nearly two decades, the Retail Jeweller India Awards have showcased meticulously selected pieces—the very best of the best. This year, 136 extraordinary creations competed for top honours, each a testament to the industry’s pinnacle of artistry.

At the heart of these esteemed awards is an independent jury panel comprising some of India’s most discerning tastemakers. These accomplished women, each with a refined eye for luxury and an innate understanding of bespoke elegance, bring their wealth of expertise to judge excellence. Their diverse professional backgrounds ensure a holistic evaluation that celebrates both tradition and innovation.

The awards evening itself was a glittering affair, showcasing the best of Indian jewellery design. “This evening is spectacular, and we should elevate it to international standards,” suggested Sudha Reddy, an esteemed jury member, advocating for a global celebration of India’s jewellery heritage. She also highlighted the unique position of Indian jewellery in the global market. “Indian craftsmanship is different compared to international craftsmanship. I feel our artisans or workers give their heart and soul to the design,” she stated. Reddy further emphasised the deep cultural significance of jewellery in India, describing it as “a legacy” and “an artefact.”

Michelle Poonawalla, a long-time jury member and artist, underscored the importance of the Retail Jeweller India Awards in showcasing the country’s talent. “It gives jewellers across India a platform to showcase their talent. India has so much creativity,” she said. Poonawalla praised the unique skills of Indian artisans, adding, “Our karigars are just amazing, incomparable to many places in the world.”

The Retail Jeweller India Awards not only celebrated contemporary designs but also honoured the rich tradition of Indian jewellery making. “In India, jewellery is very varied because the country is so vast,” Poonawalla explained. She particularly praised the craftsmanship in gold jewellery, stating, “The karigars who make gold jewellery are like sculptors. If you see some of the bangles they have made, they have sculpted them. So, I always say jewellery is also an art form.”

Poonawalla, who has been associated with the awards almost since their inception, noted the event’s growth and increasing significance. “I think it is like fine wine—ageing well over time. The awards have also grown over the years, with many more participants,” she observed. She emphasised the motivational aspect of the awards, encouraging creativity and excellence in the industry. “I would like to congratulate all of the winners, of course. But I feel every nominated piece exhibited here is a winner. They should keep up their creativity,” Poonawalla remarked.

Nawaz Modi Singhania, a long-standing jury member, highlighted the continuous improvement in the quality of entries: “Year on year, there is a huge improvement, and that goes in every sense, really, in terms of quality, quantity, innovativeness, execution, value, gemstones, and so on.”

Namrata Barua Shroff, another long-standing jury member, noted the significant progress in the industry: “I see a huge shift in the quality of the pieces in terms of design. It has evolved in the choice of materials, the choice of metals, the choice of gemstones, and the way it is all set together has transitioned over the years.”

The ‘Sparkling Brilliance’ themed Nomination Gallery, with its 16-foot chandelier, added to the beauty of the bold, innovative nominated designs on display. “It has completely blown my mind to see what designers are creating, how they have unlocked their brains to create something so out of the box,” Shroff remarked. She also emphasised the importance of originality, urging the industry to be “more mindful about design patterns and plagiarism in the world of design.”

Shauna Chauhan summed up the sentiment of many jury members, stating, “Everyone, every brand, and every retailer that participated in the Retail Jeweller India Awards have been amazing. The craftsmanship, quality, innovations, stones, gold, diamonds—everything was outstanding.”

Vaishali Shadangule, a fashion designer and jury member, offered a unique perspective on the evolution of Indian jewellery design. “I think, rather than the jewellery industry evolving, we are trying to return to our roots because design has always been there in India,” she observed. Shadangule emphasised the historical richness of Indian design, noting, “Whether it’s clothing or jewellery, history shows we used to adorn ourselves from top to bottom. Even a simple hairpin was a design.”

Shadangule highlighted the intrinsic connection between clothing and jewellery in Indian fashion. “Clothing is incomplete without jewellery, and jewellery is incomplete without clothing,” she stated, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between these two aspects of personal adornment.

As a jury member for the third consecutive year, Shadangule noted the continuous improvement in the quality and intricacy of the designs presented at the Retail Jeweller India Awards. “I see the difference in the quality and design of the jewellery. It is becoming more intricate, beautiful, and detailed,” she remarked, adding that the overall glamour of the awards has been increasing each year.

Shadangule’s message to the Indian jewellery fraternity emphasised the unique strength of Indian craftsmanship: “What we can do in the world, I don’t think anyone else can because we have the power of handmade. And the heritage and history we have in handmade work should inspire the new generation and new designers.”

Ananya Banerjee, another distinguished jury member, was captivated by the Nomination Gallery at the awards. “It is glittering with beautiful pieces, beautiful craftsmanship,” she remarked. Banerjee particularly highlighted the significance of the awards, stating, “The Retail Jeweller India Awards is an excellent platform to recognise and give awards to the brilliance of the workmanship and the excellent designs that come forth.” Her comments underscored the event’s role in showcasing India’s rich jewellery-making traditions, particularly noting her personal attraction to intricate temple jewellery designs.

As the awards evening progressed, it became an even more spectacular affair, bringing together the best of India’s jewellery industry. Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta, a jury member, noted the excitement of the event, saying, “It is bringing all the creators together in the same space.”

The awards not only showcased exquisite pieces but also celebrated the artisans behind them. Gayatri Chona, another esteemed jury member, highlighted this aspect: “Seeing the jewellery pieces in person and meeting the people behind those creations has been a great experience.” Chona’s words underscored the event’s role in bridging the gap between the jewellery and the brands offering it, adding a personal touch to the glittering affair.

Tanaz Doshi emphasised the emotional connection people have with jewellery, remarking, “Any jewellery that you wear makes you feel like a princess sometimes.”

Pria Kataaria Puri praised the event’s organisation, stating, “The awards this year have been far better organized. The organisation, timing, precision, and the entire event, including the jury judging process, was effortlessly done.”

First-time jury member Nina Lekhi praised the diversity of designs on display, saying, “I loved looking at all the different kinds of jewellery here—Indian, Western, diamonds, stones. I loved the entire collection.”

The Retail Jeweller India Awards once again proved to be a pivotal event in the Indian jewellery industry, showcasing the best of traditional craftsmanship and innovative design. As the industry continues to evolve and push boundaries, these awards serve as a testament to the enduring appeal and artistry of Indian jewellery.

Below is the link to all winners and nominations of The Retail Jeweller India Awards:

https://retailjewellerindiaawards.com/winners-nominees

Retail Jeweller India Exclusive

Written by Pooja Mujumdar