National News
GJC celebrates 25 years of gold hallmarking in India with felicitation of Union Minister Pralhad Joshi
In a momentous occasion for India’s jewellery sector, the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) marked 25 years since the introduction of gold hallmarking in India with a grand celebration and felicitation ceremony honoring Pralhad Joshi, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Minister of New & Renewable Energy at GJS 2025
The event served not only as a tribute to the journey of hallmarking in India but also as a platform to chart an ambitious roadmap for the future, with a strong focus on expanding hallmarking coverage and fostering technological innovation.
In recognition of his continued support and instrumental role in advancing hallmarking reforms, Pralhad Joshi was felicitated by GJC for his leadership in steering policies that balance consumer protection with industry development. His ministry’s efforts, in collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), have been central to enhancing transparency and quality assurance in the jewellery sector.
In his address, Shri Joshi reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening consumer trust while also simplifying compliance for jewellers. He emphasized the hallmarking system as a critical trust-building mechanism and a significant step toward formalizing and modernizing the Indian gold market.
One of the most significant announcements of the event was a joint goal set by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, BIS, and the jewellery industry: to expand mandatory gold hallmarking to 500 districts across India by the end of this financial year.
This expansion aligns with the broader objective of ensuring uniform quality standards nationwide, preventing consumer fraud, and integrating small and medium jewellers into the formal economy. GJC pledged its full support to assist local jewellers in meeting compliance standards and making hallmarking services accessible, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
In a groundbreaking move to stimulate innovation in hallmarking technology, GJC and BIS jointly announced the launch of a Hackathon aimed at developing a non-destructive testing (NDT) method for hallmarking gold.
This initiative seeks to address a long-standing concern within the industry: the challenge of verifying hallmark authenticity without damaging the piece of jewellery. Currently, traditional methods often involve partial damage or alteration during testing, which discourages on-the-spot verification by consumers and retailers.
The hackathon is open to startups, research institutions, technologists, and innovators across India and will offer funding and incubation support to viable solutions. A successful NDT mechanism would be a game-changer for quality assurance, enabling real-time, damage-free hallmark authentication across retail outlets, trade shows, and even by consumers themselves.
The celebration of 25 years of hallmarking is a testament to India’s evolution into a more structured and credible jewellery market. From its early stages to now becoming an integral part of the industry’s value chain, hallmarking has grown into a symbol of trust, quality, and consumer empowerment.
With the government, BIS, and GJC joining hands to drive expansion and innovation, the next phase of hallmarking promises to be more inclusive, tech-enabled, and consumer-centric than ever before. The GJC’s proactive role in bridging policy, practice, and innovation reinforces its commitment to nurturing a responsible, transparent, and globally competitive jewellery sector in India.
National News
5 Ways To Elevate Your Diwali Style With Diamond Stacking
Discover five stylish ways to layer, mix and stack natural diamond jewellery this Diwali, creating festive looks that blend timeless elegance with contemporary personal style.
The best Diwali looks begin with light. It catches on silk, reflects off sequins and comes alive in the brilliance of a natural diamond. This festive season, let your jewellery take centre stage with a little more sparkle and a lot more personality.
From intimate family gatherings and card parties to glamorous Diwali soirées, jewellery is often what completes the festive look. And while a statement piece will always have its place, this season is all about a more personal approach to dressing up: layering, mixing and stacking your favourite pieces to create a look that feels distinctly your own.
Real diamonds lend themselves beautifully to this way of styling. Their timeless versatility allows them to move effortlessly from traditional to contemporary, from understated afternoon celebrations to dressed-up evenings. The key is knowing what to layer, where to add sparkle and when to let a single piece shine.

Here are five ways to make natural diamonds part of your Diwali style story this season:
Layer your necklaces for a modern festive neckline There is something effortlessly glamorous about layered necklaces with festive Indianwear. The trick is to play with length, proportion and scale rather than making every piece compete for attention. Start with a rare diamond solitaire pendant and layer it with a slightly more substantial necklace or a contemporary tennis necklace. With a traditional silk saree or an embellished blouse, richer layers can complement the grandeur of the outfit. With a simpler kurta, saree or lehenga, delicate diamond layers can bring just the right amount of luminosity. Think of it as building your look one layer at a time. The aim is not uniformity, but dimension.
Make a statement with a stack of diamond rings The days of keeping every ring perfectly matched are giving way to a more expressive approach. This Diwali, mix shapes, sizes and silhouettes to create a ring stack that feels personal. Try pairing a classic round diamond with a crisp emerald cut or contrast a sleek band with a more sculptural statement ring. And don’t feel the need to keep every ring on one finger. Spread your stack across both hands for a look that feels more effortless. The beauty of asli diamonds is that every piece brings its own character to the combination. Together, they create a look that feels considered without looking overly styled.
Give festive dressing a contemporary twist with ear stacking If you want to bring a youthful edge to traditional festive dressing, look no further than your ears. Start with a diamond stud or a pear-shaped diamond on the lobe, then build upwards with smaller round studs, delicate hoops or an elegant ear cuff. Mixing different sizes and silhouettes creates a subtle cascade of sparkle without taking away from the rest of your jewellery. It works particularly well with a sleek low bun, a side-swept hairstyle or an updo that leaves the ears beautifully exposed. Paired with a saree, lehenga or even a sharply tailored festive look, an ear stack can make classic dressing feel instantly more contemporary.
Layer your bracelets for a little wrist drama A festive outfit deserves a little sparkle every time you move. This Diwali, let your wrists do some of the talking. Pair a natural diamond tennis bracelet with classic gold bangles, a diamond cuff or a delicate chain bracelet. The contrast between the fluid brilliance of diamonds and the structured form of traditional bangles creates an effortlessly modern combination. For daytime celebrations, keep the layers lighter and more delicate. Heading to a Diwali party in the evening? Add a little more drama with varied bracelet widths and textures. The secret is to mix rather than match. Different pieces can sit beautifully together without looking like they were bought as a set.
Mix the old with the new and make it your own Perhaps the most personal way to embrace jewellery stacking is to forget the rules altogether. Pair a traditional diamond pendant with contemporary solitaire earrings. Wear a tennis necklace with a classic festive saree. Or bring an heirloom diamond into the mix with a newer piece, creating a combination that brings different chapters of your life together. This is where natural diamonds have a particular resonance. They are not pieces that need to be saved for one occasion. They can become part of your everyday wardrobe, be dressed up for Diwali and return again for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and all the moments in between.
Ultimately, jewellery stacking is less about following a formula and more about finding combinations that feel like you. Start with the pieces you love, experiment with proportions and don’t be afraid to mix the traditional with the unexpected.
Because while trends may change, the value of a real diamond goes beyond the season. It is its brilliance, rarity and the meaning it gathers over time that makes it something to wear, return to and pass on.
This Diwali, let your jewellery tell your story, one layer, one sparkle and one memorable celebration at a time.
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