Southeast Asia's oldest english-language trade journal on the international gems and jewellery community
9 Jan 2026
1,600+ exhibitors and 25,000 buyers gather in Mumbai as India opens the global jewellery trade year
India reinforced its leadership in the global gems and jewellery trade with the inauguration of the 18th edition of IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026, organised by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, formally opening the global jewellery business calendar for the year.
Recognised as the first and most influential B2B jewellery trade fair of the year, IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 is being held across two venues—JWCC (8–11 January 2026) and Bombay Exhibition Centre, NESCO (9–12 January 2026)—alongside IGJME Bharat – Signature 2026, the machinery and technology showcase.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by Sandrine Conseiller, CEO, De Beers Brands and Chair, Natural Diamond Council, as Chief Guest, with Harsha Bangari, MD, EXIM Bank, and Saumen Bhaumik, MD, CaratLane, as Guests of Honour, along with senior leadership from GJEPC and global industry stakeholders.
Spread across 1.25 lakh sq. m, the exhibition features 1,600+ exhibitors across 3,300+ stalls, welcoming over 25,000 trade buyers from 800+ Indian cities, including 1,400 international buyers from 40 countries and 12 international buyer delegations. The show offers comprehensive sourcing across gold, diamond, silver and studded jewellery, loose natural diamonds, coloured gemstones, couture and fine jewellery, lab-grown diamonds, and machinery.
Speaking at the inauguration, Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, said IIJS Bharat – Signature reflects India’s confidence, transparency and global readiness, while highlighting the sector’s long-term growth driven by FTAs, innovation, ethical trade and diversification. Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, noted that IIJS is where the global jewellery industry looks to India for direction at the start of the business year.
Key highlights include the Crafts Pavilion, celebrating GI-tagged Indian jewellery traditions under the Brilliant Bharat – Art Forms of India theme; Select CLUB, a luxury segment featuring 107 high-end jewellery companies; and Innov8 Talks & Symposium Knowledge Forums, covering topics such as natural diamonds, FTAs, lab-grown diamond technology, ease of doing business and AI in jewellery.
Aligned with GJEPC’s One Earth initiative, the show continues its sustainability focus, including the elimination of over 600,000 single-use plastic bottles at the BEC venue.
With strong global participation and renewed business momentum, IIJS Bharat – Signature 2026 is set to define sourcing, design and trade sentiment for the gem and jewellery industry in the year ahead.