Held alongside one of the country’s largest jewellery trade exhibitions, the gathering offered GIA graduates an opportunity to reconnect with former classmates, strengthen professional relationships and exchange perspectives on developments shaping the jewellery and gemstone business. Attendees represented a wide cross-section of the trade, including gemology, jewellery design, manufacturing, retail, education and other specialised areas of the industry.
With IIJS drawing manufacturers, retailers, designers, suppliers and industry professionals from across India, the timing of the alumni gathering created an opportunity for members of the GIA community to meet under one roof while many were already in Mumbai for the exhibition.
The evening reflected the growing role of professional alumni networks in an industry where technical knowledge, market awareness and long-term relationships remain important to business development. Conversations ranged from changes in consumer preferences and industry practices to professional experiences and opportunities for collaboration within the wider jewellery supply chain.
The GIA Alumni Collective, launched in 2022, was created to strengthen connections among graduates of the institute and provide a platform through which alumni can continue engaging with one another beyond their formal education. The initiative forms part of GIA’s wider global alumni network, which includes around 185,000 graduates worldwide. The collective currently has 59 active chapters across the world, enabling alumni in different markets to connect locally while remaining part of an international professional community.
Speaking about the Mumbai gathering, Cathryn Ramirez, Senior Vice President and Chief Learning Officer at GIA, reflected on the growth of the alumni community in India. Returning to the country after five years, she noted the significant expansion of the network and the increasing participation of graduates in alumni activities.
Ramirez highlighted the importance of experienced graduates sharing their professional knowledge with newer members of the community. According to her, the strong turnout demonstrated not only the scale of GIA’s alumni presence in India but also the willingness of professionals to contribute their experience, support incoming students and help strengthen the broader gems and jewellery trade.
India remains one of the most significant centres for the global diamond and jewellery industry, with professionals working across diamond manufacturing, gemstone trading, jewellery production, design and retail. Against this backdrop, alumni engagement provides an additional platform for professionals from different segments of the business to exchange expertise and develop relationships beyond their individual organisations.
Amit Pratihari, Managing Director, GIA India, also underlined the importance of collaboration and continuous learning within the Indian jewellery sector. He noted that the country’s trade has traditionally benefited from strong professional relationships and the exchange of knowledge between different parts of the value chain.
Pratihari said the alumni network has developed into an active platform where industry professionals can exchange ideas, build long-term working relationships and encourage higher professional standards. Such interactions, he indicated, can play an important role in helping individuals stay connected with developments across the industry while continuing to expand their professional networks.
For alumni attending IIJS Bharat Premiere 2026, the gathering also provided a welcome break from the fast-paced exhibition environment. After a day of meetings, product presentations and business discussions on the exhibition floor, participants were able to reconnect with familiar faces in a more informal setting and establish relationships with professionals from other parts of the trade.
The interaction between alumni from different disciplines was particularly relevant as the jewellery industry becomes increasingly interconnected. Gemological expertise now works closely with areas such as design, manufacturing technology, branding, retail strategy and consumer education, making cross-sector professional networks increasingly valuable.
Beyond reconnecting former students, events such as the Mumbai gathering also create opportunities for mentoring and professional knowledge transfer. Experienced members of the industry can share practical perspectives with younger graduates, while emerging professionals bring new ideas and changing market viewpoints into the conversation.
As IIJS Bharat Premiere 2026 continues to bring the jewellery industry together for business, sourcing and networking, the GIA alumni gathering added an educational and community-driven dimension to the week’s activities.
For those attending, the evening was not simply a reunion but an opportunity to strengthen connections within a professional network that extends across India and internationally. The relationships and conversations developed during the gathering could potentially lead to future collaborations, knowledge-sharing initiatives and business opportunities across different parts of the jewellery supply chain.
The Mumbai meet-up ultimately highlighted the value of maintaining professional connections beyond the classroom, reinforcing the role of alumni communities in supporting continuous learning, collaboration and the long-term development of the gems and jewellery industry.
