GIA India Graduates First Jewelry Design Class

The first class of graduates finished GIA India's nine week jewelry design class. Throughout the nine-week program, each student learned about different aspects of jewelry design, including artistry, illustration, rendering and application of traditional drafting techniques.

During the graduation ceremony, Queenie, a well-known jewelry designer and former Miss India, and Avinash Mahtani of Lalchand Dhalamal Sons, provided personal, career and marketing advice to the students. Queenie advised graduates to design items that will please the customer and sell in the marketplace, rather than creating beautiful pieces that will remain on the shelf.

Mahtani told the group, “The students’ designs were aligned with the jewelry trends of today, which are unique yet still very wearable. Most of the designs showed a good understanding of the use of large and small diamonds at appropriate places."

“Jewelry design is critical for the growth of the gem and jewelry industry," said Nirupa Bhatt, GIA managing director for India and the Middle East. "Design is the imagination’s spark made visible, and from which any jewelry piece is made. The work done by this group of graduating students is impressive and each one of them has potential to be successful. GIA strives to bring this caliber of trained talent to the industry."