Designing of indian gold and diamond jewellery

An Indian economy, gem and jewelry is a leading foreign exchange earner for the country. The country consumes around 800 tonnes of gold that account for 20 % of global gold consumption and nearly 600 tonnes of this goes into jewelry making. The Indian jewellery market, which is estimated to be US$ 13.5 billion in fiscal 2006-07, accounts for 8.3 % of the global jewellery sales, according to a study by KPMG.

The increase in purchasing parity of the middle class and surging income levels have resulted in consumption growth of gems and jewellery by about 11 % in the 5 year period preceding 2006-07. It also contributes over 15 % of the total exports of country and provides employment to 1.3 million people directly and indirectly. The two major segments of the gem and jewelry industry in India are gold jewellery and diamonds. The contribution of gold jewelry is about 80 % of the total jewelry market.

Today, jewellery designing as a career is steadily grabbing international attention. India has produced award-winning jewellery and accessory designers. Industry Experts believe that It's a good time guys to think of jewellery designing as a career option. Till barely 10-15 years back, jewellery designing was confined to a few goldsmiths. "But nowadays things have changed”. Jewellery designing has come out of the closet.

With the entry of big players like Tanishq, Swarovski, DeBeers, D’- damas, the shifting thrust on gems and stones rather than pure gold is giving a big push to the organised gems and jewellery industry.

Most    jewellery designing courses are of six month to two-year duration. The following are the reputed institutes and courses - 

• College Britanica, Britanica House-38, Sectoir-32, Institutional Area, Sector 15 Crossing, Nh-8, Gurgaon (Haryana) offers degrees & diplomas in jewellery design.
• Delhi Institute Of Fashion & Technology, 9,Community Centre, East of Kailash, New Delhi offers 1-year Diploma & 6-month Professional Certificate in Jewellery Designing.
• Gemmological Institute Of India, 29,Gurukul Chambers, 187-189, Mumbadevi Road, Mumbai 400002 offers Diploma courses in Gemmology, JD, Diamond grading & correspondence course in Gemmology.
• Gemstone Artisans Training School, Jhalana Mahal, Jaipur 302017 offers Courses in Cutting & Polishing of Diamonds & Coloured stones.
• National Institute of Fashion Designing-NIFT -The Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing federation Building, No.8, Cunningham road, Bangalore-560 052, Sector III, Salt Lake City, Kolkata (West Bengal), NIFT Campus, near Gulmohar Park, NIFT Campus,Hauz Khas, New Delhi.

• Pearl Academy of Fashion, Delhi Campus - A - 21/13, Naraina Industrial Area - Phase II,  New Delhi - 110028., Chennai Campus - 82, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai - 600034, Tamil Nadu. Ludhiana Campus- 178, Col. Gurdial Singh Road, Civil Lines, Ludhiana - 141001., Bangladesh Campus- H.N.#11 , Road #6, Baridhara, Dhaka., UAE Campus -P.O.Box: 31918, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.Ph.: 971 06/5540661, 06/5540663

Resident and Distance Education programmes are offered by

• Indian Diamond Institute, Katargam, GIDC, Sumul Dairy Road, Surat-395008
• Indian Gemmological Institute, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi-110001
• Department of Geology, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai-400001 teaches Jewellery Design; Gemmology; Diamond AssortmentGemstones Artisans Training School (sponsored by GOI), Jaipur-302017 trains for diamond/ coloured gemstones cutting and polishing
• S.G. Jhaveri Centre for Diamond Technology, Shri Bhagubhai Mafatlal Polytechnic,Vile Parle Mumbai-400056 (Diamond Technology)
• Jewellery Product Development Centre, Commerce Centre, Tardeo, Mumbai-400034
  Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council, Jaipur-302003
• National Institute of Fashion Technology's (NIFT's) Accessory Design course could also lead up this profession.

The facilities provided at the institutes are state-of-the-art and fully equipped with the latest reference material and machinery. The workstations are especially designed for fatigue-free long hours. Those who have cleared their plus two are eligible to apply for jewellery designing courses. Admissions are on the basis of an interview.

Rubber Mold Maker: usually an employed position in a factory, plenty of room for independent service work in small to large cities; requires marketing skills. Some option for mailed service work.

Teacher/Faculty : the route would be through art schools and industry experience, long training with some room for employed and independent service work

Watchmaker: a specialized field. Most watches are now quartz and require only minimal skills to change batteries or movements. True watch making is dying out and this means that for a highly motivated skilled watchmaker/goldsmith there are very well paying opportunities

Computer Aided designer : coming soon and already here in some places are computer driven machines which carve wax, build up plastic models, harden plastic models from liquids, mill steel molds for wax or plastics injection. All of these are intended for casting. There will be an increasing place in the field of goldsmithing and jewellery production for people who understand goldsmithing and computers

Allied services sales agent: giftware, packaging, display, security, insurance, bookkeeping etc: self explanatory, selling to jewellery stores, subject to the vagaries of the economy.

Sales Staff: employed by jewellery stores, pay is low to good depending upon the store and skills. A very high end store will have the best pay opportunities. It is a good way to learn something of the business of running a jewellery store, particularly in a smaller business where many jobs are expected of one

Store Owner/Manager/ Shop manager: well paid, usually worked up through the ranks from sales staff.

Stone Dealer:

Also, the Branded Jewellery has become a passion. People yearn for the contemporary designs at great prices. The concept of branded jewellery has therefore taken a swing in India. De beers were the initiator of this notion and a trail followed it and will be continuing further. Time and again we see new entrants in this segment of branded jewellery introducing innovative designs on after the other. This motion keeps the competition on, flooding the marketplace with fine and fresh designs.

So all those who have an intrinsic talent and inclination towards this off- beat career option, get set for a glittering career…