A glittering showcase at India Jewellery Week

Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and stunning jewellery creations dazzled along with celebrity showstoppers on stage at the India International Jewellery Week in Mumbai.

The first week of August saw a truly remarkable presentation of one of the world's favourite passions - jewellery - take on stunning new avatars at the 6th edition of the India International Jewellery Week (IIJW), powered by GIA (Gemological Institute of America).
Spread over a few days in Mumbai, the event saw leading, renowned Indian designers and jewellery houses - both old and new - exhibit exquisitely crafted and gem-encrusted jewellery, in a parade of beautifully choreographed ramp shows. At the Grand Hyatt, celebrities, Bollywood personalities, high profile clientele, the crème de la crème of society and international media witnessed a succession of 20-minute shows featuring different jewellery brands' creations, capped by Bollywood celebrity showstoppers.
On Day One, a blitz of celebs attended and TV stars dazzled on the ramp for the opening BETI Show, which featured tennis star Sania Mirza as the showstopper. Sania walked the ramp for Moni Agarwal. Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor - the grand brand ambassador of India International Jewellery Week 2015 - also dazzled the ramp during the inauguration of the event. The beautiful Chitrangada Singh, dressed as a bride, started and stopped the show for Shobha Shringar, while Tanishq closed its Divyam Collection with the evergreen Juhi Chawla.
Day Two also saw a great line-up of stars. The petite, pretty Soha Ali Khan closed the show for Surya Golds in association with Swarovski Gemstones, and after a multitude of TV stars came actress Evelyn Sharma, who walked in the finale show for GDK Jewels.
Day Three again saw major drama, dominated again by the Bollywood brigade. Supermodel Ujjwala Raut, singer Mansi Scott, Miss India Sushree Sheya Mishra, and entertainer Sophie Choudhary upped the glamour quotient for Diosa Jewels by Darshan Dave in association with Swarovski Gemstones. Bollywood starlet Kiara Advani served as showstopper for AAKS Jewels, while Kriti Sanon stepped out looking gorgeous in bridal finery for Sunil Jewels.
The spunky Richa Chadda walked for innovative designer Anand Shah, in a magnificent draped floral necklace and matching ear-and-head ornament. Preeti Jain had Ileana D'Cruz opening her show for her brand Jewels by Preeti, and classy Aditi Rao Hyadri closed the show for Yoube Jewellery.
The epic conclusion on Day Three was Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas's stunning, multi-part evening show called Adaa, inspired by the royal women of India, for which Dia Mirza and Preity Zinta stepped out in regal, timeless looks.
The grand finale on the last day was entirely dedicated to the Thai Gem and Jewellery Traders Association, and the ending show was an extravaganza of 13 gorgeous collections using Thai coloured stores. The jewellery was a mélange of gold, precious and coloured stones that delighted the Indian audience. There were lacy necklaces, chandelier earrings in yellow diamonds with emeralds, clusters of coloured stones for necklaces and earrings and rows of emeralds with impressive pendants. Brands that participated at IIJW were AUM Monica Kapoor, Anand Shah, AAKS Jewels, Avantika, Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Das, Dhruv, Diosa, Emerald, GDK, GSI, IIGJ (Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur), Jewellers Association Show, Jewels by Preeti, Leading Jewellers of the World, Moni Agarwal, Shobha Shringar, Swarovski, Sunil Jewellers, Surya Golds, Tanishq, Thai Gem & Jewellery Traders Association, Yoube Jewellery, and Varuna D Jani.
Truly, with large doses of glitz, glamour and talent, the IIJW really shone in all ways.
marypaulose@khaleejtimes.com

• India