C. Krishnaih Chetty & Sons is the all-India winner of the ANANT shooting star contest

The ANANT Shooting Star Contest organised by Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) in association with Rio Tinto announced to C. Krishnaih Chetty & Sons in Bangalore as the nation-wide winner, and 16 regional winners. C. Krishnaih Chetty & Sons won the ANANT Shooting Star title for best in-store display, at the hands of Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor.

The contest is a segment of the ANANT campaign launched by GJEPC together with Gold Souk, and Rio Tinto Diamonds, IGI and All India Gem & Jewellery Federation, to promote Single Line Diamond Jewellery and such sales in India and to bring various diamond jewellery retailers together. Rio Tinto organised the month long contest in December 2009 across 13 regions, with participation from 197 ANANT retail outlets across India.

Mr. Sanjay Kothari, Convenor, Marketing & Promotion, GJEPC said “Council hopes that with this initiative, the diamond industry in India has benefitted and has got the momentum required to emerge out of the slow down. ANANT now enters a very intriguing phase and this contest only helped in catapulting the involvement of retailers in this initiative. I congratulate CKC for their exemplary efforts and their belief in GJEPC’s efforts to boost the industry in India”.

The regional prize winners were - Mumbai-Lagu Bandhu Motiwale Jewellers, Mumbai -Orra- The Diamond Destination; Ahemdabad -Laxmi Jewellery; Bangalore -Davanam Jewellers, Bangalore-Reliance Jewels; Baroda-C H Jewellers; Hyderabad-Reliance Jewels; Chennai-Orra-The Diamond Destination; Coimbatore-Kirtilal Kalidas Jewellers; Kolkatta-B C Sen; Jaipur-Birdichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers; Lucknow-Orra-The Diamond Destination; Delhi-Tanishq, Rajouri Garden; Chandigarh-Orra-The Diamond Destination; Cochin-H Venkatesha Naik; Nagpur-Batukbhai & Sons.

Mr. Vikram Merchant, Manager of Rio Tinto Diamonds Mumbai office, commented on the importance of the ANANT campaign in driving demand for diamond jewellery in India, “GJEPC’s ANANT diamond jewellery promotion is a truly unique initiative; which brings together participants at every level of the Gem and Jewellery supply chain. As lead sponsor of the ANANT campaign, Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest diamond producers, is proud to be partnering with the GJEPC in the promotion of diamond jewellery in India. "

Apart from trophies and certificates the winner was being presented with merchandise signed by Sonam Kapoor, the ANANT Brand Ambassador. The Jury Panel who selected the winners comprised of Mr. Prasoon Joshi (McCann Erickson), Ms. Shimul Vyas (NID,Ahmedabad) and Ms. Soma Bhatta, Editor, Retail Jeweller.