Connect with us

National News

From Mumbai to Minas Capillitas: IIG Deepens Global Footprint with Argentina Partnership

Published

on

The International Institute of Gemology (IIG), under the leadership of CEO & MD Rahul Desai, has taken another step in its global journey by creating deeper international partnerships and expanding academic horizons. In collaboration with the Consulate General of the Argentine Republic in Mumbai and CAMYEN S.E., IIG hosted a hybrid masterclass titled “Introduction to Rhodochrosite”, celebrating Argentina’s national gemstone, admired worldwide for its rarity and cultural significance.

This initiative highlights IIG’s mission to expand both in breadth, by extending its reach across borders, and in depth, by delivering expertise-driven education that equips students with insights unavailable through conventional sources. With this approach, IIG is steadily positioning itself as a global leader in gem and jewelry education, bridging knowledge gaps through world-class teaching and meaningful collaborations.

The session began with a welcome address by Gunjan Sapra, COO and Head of Department at IIG, who emphasized how such partnerships create opportunities for student exchanges, mine visits, and joint research. She noted that collaborations like this enable IIG students to follow gemstones on their journey, from their natural origins to international markets, providing exposure that prepares them for the realities of the industry.

The event was attended by a distinguished gathering, including Rahul Desai, CEO & MD of IIG; Gunjan Sapra; Consulate General Daniel Quer Confalonieri; Deputy Consulate María Virginia Yapur; and CAMYEN Board of Directors; Hugo Moya (President), José Barrera (Vice President), and Gabriel Molina (Member). Their presence strengthened the shared commitment to advancing gemological education and strengthening India- Argentina ties.

Adding depth to the program, CAMYEN experts Marina Corvalán (Geology Department) and Jessica Felsztyna (Marketing Department) offered students in Mumbai and worldwide (via Zoom) a masterclass on the geology, mining, and commercialization of Rhodochrosite from the renowned Minas Capillitas mines.

Speaking on the occasion, Rahul Desai emphasized the global responsibility of institutes like IIG: “Across the world, there is still a gap in how gemological education is delivered. Real learning cannot come from quick searches, it must be imparted with expertise, experience, and context. At IIG, we are creating that platform and scaling it globally. Our collaboration with Argentina is a living example of cross-border education, proving that diverse perspectives and shared expertise are essential for shaping the future of the gem and jewelry industry.”

CAMYEN authorities emphasized that this initiative reflects and strengthens the growing relationship between Argentina and India, a bond recently highlighted by the visit of India’s Prime Minister. The province of Catamarca, home to significant Indian investment in lithium exploration and growing interest in copper and other key minerals for the energy transition, stands at the heart of this collaboration. At the same time, the rise in Rhodochrosite exports to India aligns meaningfully with this training initiative, opening new pathways to promote the gemstone’s potential in the Indian market.

Adding his perspective, Consul General Daniel Quer Confalonieri said: “Education is the strongest bridge between nations. This collaboration with IIG not only highlights Argentina’s rich gemstone heritage but also creates a channel for knowledge exchange that benefits students in both our countries. We are proud to contribute to IIG’s vision and to see Rhodochrosite becoming part of their specimen library as a symbol of this partnership.”

In a gesture symbolizing this new partnership, CAMYEN and the Argentine Consulate donated three kilograms of Rhodochrosite to IIG’s Specimen Library. This rare gemstone, now en route to Mumbai, will serve as a permanent educational resource for students.

This collaboration marks a new milestone in IIG’s global vision. By uniting expertise from India and Argentina, it reinforces the institute’s belief that the future of gemology must be rooted in responsible mining, sustainable practices, and knowledge without borders. With initiatives like this, IIG is not only strengthening its international presence but also shaping the next generation of gem and jewelry professionals.

Continue Reading
Advertisement JewelBuzz Banner
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted

National News

Senco Gold & Diamonds Partners With Olocker to Give Customers Free Jewellery Insurance, Letting Precious Memories Be Worn, Not Hidden Away

A Customer-First Initiative Designed to Help People Wear Their Precious Memories with Confidence.

Published

on

Senco Gold & Diamonds, one of India’s most trusted jewellery houses, has partnered with Olocker, India’s first dedicated jewellery insurance platform, to offer free jewellery insurance to its customers, protecting purchases against risks such as snatching, robbery, and housebreaking.

On the surface, it’s a simple value-add: buy jewellery from Senco, get it insured, at no extra cost. But the thinking behind it is more personal — the freedom to actually live with the things you love. 

There is a quiet ritual that plays out in homes across India every wedding season, every anniversary. A piece of jewellery is bought with love, worn once or twice with pride — and then, almost apologetically, tucked away in a bank locker for “safekeeping.” The very thing meant to be cherished ends up spending most of its life in the dark.

A Locker Is No Place for a Memory

Ask any family that owns fine jewellery, and you’ll hear the same quiet anxiety: the fear of stepping out wearing something precious, the fear of a break-in while the house is empty. For many, the solution has always been the same — lock it away, take it out only for weddings and festivals, and let it sit untouched the rest of the year.

It’s a practical response to a real risk, but it also means jewellery bought to mark a marriage or a milestone ends up being seen far less than it deserves.

This is the exact problem Senco Gold & Diamonds’ Managing Director, Suvankar Sen,

has spoken about wanting to solve. Known for a customer-first philosophy that goes beyond transactions, Sen has often said jewellery should be something people live with, not something they merely own. “Jewellery is never just metal and stone,” Sen said, explaining the thinking behind the Olocker partnership. “It’s a wedding day, a mother’s blessing, a promise kept. When customers can’t step out wearing it, or can’t leave home without worrying about a break-in, something is broken in that experience. We wanted to fix that.” 

That sentiment is the quiet engine behind this initiative. Rather than simply selling jewellery and stepping back, Senco has chosen to walk the extra mile — ensuring that once a customer takes a piece home, they can wear it freely and pass it down through generations, without the constant undercurrent of worry. 

What the Partnership Actually Offers

Through this collaboration, Senco customers receive free jewellery insurance via Olocker on qualifying purchases, protecting against snatching, robbery, and housebreaking.

Olocker, India’s first digital platform dedicated to jewellery insurance and asset tracking, brings the technical and insurance backbone — while Senco brings its decades of trust, built since 1938, to make sure customers actually use it. 

For a family that has just bought a piece for a wedding, this means peace of mind — wearing that necklace to a dinner without the nagging thought of “what if someone snatches it,” or “what if someone breaks in while we’re away.” 

A Partnership Built on Shared Intent

The excitement isn’t one-sided. At Olocker, the partnership is seen as validation of the idea the platform was built on — that jewellery insurance should be a natural, everyday companion to ownership, not a niche afterthought.

“This is genuinely one of the most exciting collaborations we’ve been part of,” said Milind Shethia, Founder & Chief Marketing Officer at Olocker. “Our mission has been to help people wear their jewellery instead of locking it away, and partnering with a name as trusted as Senco brings that mission to millions of customers at once.

What’s heartening is Mr. Sen’s own approach — he didn’t look at it as a marketing tie-up, but as giving something back to people who’ve trusted Senco for generations. That kind of intent is rare, and it’s exactly the spirit we built Olocker around.” 

That mutual sense of purpose is what gives this partnership its quiet credibility. It isn’t a scheme or a promotional hook, but two organisations agreeing on a simple, shared belief: jewellery should be lived in, not locked up. 

A Bigger Idea About Ownership

There is a broader philosophy at play, one Suvankar Sen has championed throughout his tenure at Senco — that jewellery is an emotional asset as much as a financial one, and customers shouldn’t have to choose between enjoying it and protecting it.

This partnership feels less like a marketing initiative and more like a promise kept, reflecting a leadership style that measures success in something harder to quantify — how cared for a customer feels long after leaving the showroom. 

As jewellery increasingly doubles as adornment and investment, initiatives like this one may well set a new benchmark for customer care in the industry.

Senco, through its partnership with Olocker, isn’t just insuring jewellery against snatching or a break-in — it’s giving people back the freedom to wear their memories, out loud, without fear. 

Continue Reading

Trending

JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.

We would like to hear from you...

GET WHATSAPP NEWS ALERTS

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x