The India International Jewellery Show (IIJS), held annually in Mumbai, is the flagship trade exhibition organised by the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), the apex body of India's gem and jewellery export industry operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Consistently ranked among the largest jewellery trade fairs in Asia, IIJS functions as a critical sourcing, networking, and deal-making platform for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and buying agents drawn from India and from international markets across the Middle East, South-East Asia, Europe, and the Americas.

Format and Scope

The show occupies large exhibition halls — in recent editions held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC) in Goregaon, Mumbai — and typically spans four to five days. Its product coverage is broad, encompassing finished gold and diamond jewellery, platinum jewellery, silver and fashion jewellery, loose coloured gemstones, loose diamonds, pearls, findings and components, jewellery machinery, and packaging. This breadth makes IIJS unusual among regional trade fairs: a buyer can source rough or cut coloured stones, commission settings, and evaluate finished goods under a single roof.

Exhibitor numbers at major editions have reached into the thousands, with a significant proportion representing India's manufacturing heartlands — Surat (diamonds and coloured stones), Jaipur (coloured gemstones and silver jewellery), Mumbai (gold and diamond jewellery), and Chennai and Thrissur (traditional gold jewellery). International pavilions from countries including Belgium, Israel, and Thailand have featured in various editions, reflecting the show's role as a two-way trade conduit rather than purely a domestic showcase.

IIJS Premiere

The GJEPC also organises IIJS Premiere, a separate edition positioned at the higher end of the market and typically held earlier in the calendar year. Premiere is designed to attract international buyers and larger domestic retail chains, with stricter exhibitor eligibility criteria and a curated floor plan intended to emphasise design and craftsmanship alongside volume sourcing. Together, IIJS Mumbai and IIJS Premiere form the twin pillars of the GJEPC's domestic exhibition calendar.

Significance for the Coloured-Gemstone Trade

India occupies a structurally important position in the global coloured-gemstone supply chain: Jaipur is one of the world's foremost cutting and trading centres for ruby, emerald, sapphire, and a wide range of semi-precious material, while Mumbai serves as a financial and logistics hub for gem exports. IIJS consequently attracts coloured-stone dealers who might otherwise be encountered only at Jaipur's own trade events or at international fairs such as Bangkok Gems & Jewellery or the Tucson shows. For international buyers seeking Indian-cut material or Indian-manufactured gemstone jewellery, IIJS represents an efficient single point of access to a large segment of that supply.

Role of the GJEPC

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council was established by the Indian government to promote gem and jewellery exports and to provide institutional support to the industry. Beyond organising IIJS and IIJS Premiere, the GJEPC facilitates Indian participation in international trade fairs, publishes trade statistics, and engages with policy matters affecting import duties, hallmarking regulations, and export incentives. Its stewardship of IIJS gives the show a degree of governmental backing that lends stability and regulatory credibility uncommon in privately organised trade fairs.

In the Trade

Within the international jewellery trade, IIJS is regarded as an essential calendar fixture for buyers whose sourcing strategy includes Indian manufacturing. Its timing — typically in August — places it after the Hong Kong June show and before the September Hong Kong and Bangkok shows, making it a logical stop in the second half of the annual buying circuit. The show's scale and the density of Indian manufacturers present mean that price discovery, competitive benchmarking, and supplier qualification can all be accomplished efficiently across a short visit.

Further Reading

• GJEPC — IIJS Official Information