National News
VAJRA INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC MEET (VAIRAM) 2025 organised by GJEPC, IIT Madras inaugurated in Chennai
The Vajra Industry Research and Academic Meet (Vairam) 2025, a joint effort by GJEPC and InCent LGD IIT Madras, was officially introduced at the IITM Research Park in Chennai.
Madras at IITM Research Park, Chennai, was unveiled by Prof. V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof M S Ramachandra Rao, InCent-LGD, IIT Madras, Mr. Manish Jiwani, Co-Convener, LGD Committee, GJEPC and Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC among other dignitaries and industry experts.
The workshop features several panel discussions. “Beyond Gems: Next-Generation Applications of OLab-Grown Diamonds” explores LGDs’ potential in various industries beyond jewellery. “Lab-Grown Diamond Growth and Treatment Recipes and Challenges” delves into the intricacies of CVD and HPHT methods. “Diamond Quality Checks and Certification” addresses the crucial need for standardised quality control for gems, jewellery, and seeds. “Lab Grown Diamond Machines and Processing Equipment” will highlight the importance of indigenous equipment manufacturing to bolster India’s self-reliance. The workshop has drawn 150 + participants from the industry.
Key Takeaways
Diamond Quality Checks & Certification:
- Advanced treatments challenge LGD grading and certification accuracy.
- Key challenges: ensuring grading accuracy, standardization, and detecting undisclosed synthetics.
- Emphasis on advanced testing methods, tech-driven grading, and industry consistency.
- Traceability of tested items is a major issue.
- LGDs are both supplementary and complementary to the diamond industry.
- Mimicking natural diamond growth patterns in LGDs remains a challenge.
LGD Growth & Treatment Recipes: Key Takeaways
- Increasing nitrogen in HPHT accelerates growth, benefiting gem-quality diamonds but not other industrial uses.
- Focus on optimizing growth parameters, impurity control, and enhancement for superior diamonds.
- Challenges include consistency, reducing defects, scalability, and reliance on high-purity raw materials.
- Future focus on refining processes, improving sustainability, and enhancing research-industry collaboration.
Diamond Quality Checks & Certification (Continued): Key Takeaways
Strengthening quality assurance frameworks is essential to ensure consumer trust globally.
Grading LGDs differs from natural diamonds, especially in color; secondary reference masters needed.
Labs must assess hue saturation and intensity, not just color for LGDs.
Clarity characteristics differ due to metallic inclusions in LGDs.
Color grading challenges arise in borderline clusters where AI struggles.
LGDs are cut for perfection, unlike natural diamonds, which are cut for weight retention.
National News
PNG Jewellers Marks 25 Years Of Paud Road Store With ‘Choosing Gold’ Marathi Edition Launch By Actress Shreya Bugade
Launched Within Three Months Of The English Edition, The Marathi Memoir Was Unveiled In The Presence Of Actress Shreya Bugade At PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road Store.
Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director of PNG Jewellers, launched the Marathi edition of his debut memoir, Choosing Gold, in Pune, in the presence of popular Marathi actress Shreya Bugade. The Marathi edition comes just three months after the book’s English release in August 2026, bringing Dr Gadgil’s personal and professional journey closer to readers in his mother tongue. The launch took place at PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store, which also celebrated 25 glorious years of serving customers and building lasting relationships in Pune.

Choosing Gold offers a deeply personal account of Dr. Gadgil’s journey as the sixth-generation custodian of PNG Jewellers, one of India’s oldest and most respected jewellery businesses with a legacy spanning 194 years. Originally published in English by Penguin Random House India in August 2026, the memoir reflects on the challenges, defining decisions and experiences that shaped his leadership and the evolution of the business. With the launch of its Marathi edition, this journey now reaches readers in a language closely connected to Dr. Gadgil’s upbringing, family and roots.
More than the story of a successful entrepreneur, Choosing Gold is an honest reflection on the responsibility of carrying forward a legacy while finding one’s own identity. Having taken over the leadership of PNG Jewellers, Dr. Gadgil navigated several defining moments that tested his conviction and shaped his outlook. The memoir revisits the lessons learned from setbacks, conversations with his grandfather and mother that stayed with him over the years, and personal experiences that influenced his decisions. It also offers insight into his approach to leading and transforming a nearly two-century-old family business while remaining rooted in the values on which it was built.
Speaking on the launch, Dr. Saurabh Gadgil, Chairman and Managing Director, PNG Jewellers, said:

“Ever since the English edition of Choosing Gold was released, I had been eagerly looking forward to bringing the book to Marathi readers. Marathi is my mother tongue, and seeing my experiences, decisions and learnings reach readers in my own language is a moment of immense pride and happiness for me. Writing this book allowed me to revisit several moments in my life. Some decisions worked out, some did not, and the significance of a few became clear only years later. Each of these experiences has shaped the person I am today. My family’s values, the rich legacy of PNG Jewellers and the trust our customers have placed in us have all played an important role in this journey.
I am particularly happy that the Marathi edition will allow me to connect with readers in a more personal way. If even one experience from my journey helps someone approach a difficult decision with greater confidence, I would consider the purpose of this book fulfilled.”
Popular Marathi actress Shreya Bugade, who graced the occasion as the chief guest, said:
“It is truly an honour to be part of the launch of the Marathi edition of Dr. Saurabh Gadgil’s Choosing Gold. What makes this occasion even more special is that we are also celebrating 25 glorious years of PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store. It is a double celebration, and I am delighted to be part of it.”

The launch of the Marathi edition marks another significant milestone in Dr. Gadgil’s journey as an author. Going beyond the world of business, the memoir explores leadership, family, relationships, responsibility and the importance of believing in one’s decisions. Its themes extend beyond entrepreneurs and business professionals, offering relatable experiences and reflections for readers navigating their own ambitions, challenges and choices.


The occasion also marked the silver jubilee of PNG Jewellers’ Paud Road store, celebrating 25 glorious years of customer trust and relationships. Over the past two and a half decades, the store has built a strong connection with generations of customers in the neighbourhood, making it an important part of PNG Jewellers’ journey in Pune.
-
JB Insights7 days agoDhanteras Shopping Guide 2026:Gold, Silver, Diamonds & Festive Jewellery Trends To Watch
-
BrandBuzz7 days agoThe Solenne Collection: A Celebration Of Diwali By Bharti Bangur Fine Jewels
-
BrandBuzz7 days agoFrom Diya Puja To Diwali Soirées: Jewellery Designed To Go Beyond The Festive Season
-
National News7 days agoIndriya, Aditya Birla Jewellery Unveiled India’s Largest Sustainable Jewellery Rangavalli

