Gem, Jewelry expo at Soaltee kicks off

KATHMANDU, Aug 19: The first Gem and Jewelry Expo kicked off at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza on Friday, offering first major opportunity to local consumers and exporters to observe and invest in antique ornament sets.



Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal inaugurated the expo, which will continue for three days and showcases a wide range of jewelry pieces produced by more than 26 Nepali gem and jewelry companies. [break]



Organizers, Nepal Gem and Jewelry Association (NGJA) and Direction Nepal, said the expo targets to cater to the needs of local consumers and exporters. On the first day, NGJA and Gem and Jewelry Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for promoting the trade of gems and jewelry between Nepal and India.



Chairman of GJEPC Rajiv Jain promised to help Nepal set up a gemological laboratory apart from offering scholarships to two individuals from Nepal to study and get trained in gemology. Officials of NGJA sought support from the government to build capacity of local producers and incentives to encourage jewelry exports.



PM Khanal admitted that the country can benefit a lot by tapping export potentials of gems and jewelry. He promised to implement policies that aim to support production and exports of gems and jewelry. He said feasibility study will be conducted to detect reserves of precious stones in the country.



One of the major handicraft exports from the country, the gems and jewelry sector employs more than 60,000 craftsmen, both local and foreigners.



Leading jewelry stores in Kathmandu such as Asri Jewelers, Classic Diamond Jewelry, Shree Riddhi Siddhi Jewelers, and Ebisu among others said that they have introduced antique designs based on modern themes for the expo.







Asri has introduced brooches, diamond wrist-watches and tiara sets that can be used as both crown and neck-piece. Classic Diamond Jewelry is featuring crowns made with emerald and ruby. Exhibitors like Shree Riddhi Siddhi and Ebisu are promoting antique ornaments.



"As antique ornaments redesigned with a touch of modernity are very much in vogue, we have introduced ornaments made up of ruby and uncut diamond in the expo," Junu Shrestha of Ebisu told Republica.



With the price of the yellow metal jumping sharply, organizers expressed hope that over 10,000 people will visit the expo to look for yellow metal´s alternatives. Republica brings you some of latest designs introduced by jewelry companies at the exhibition.



Tiara

Rs: 1,165,000

Available at Asri Jewelers


Crown

Rs: 1,800,000 (approximately)

Available at Classic Diamond Jewelers



Kundan set

Rs: 4,500,000

Available at Ebisu Jewelers



Neck-piece

Rs: 235,000

Available at Shree Riddhi Shiddhi Jewelers



Ganesh set

Rs: 986,000

Available at R.B. Diamond Jewelers

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