Indo Argyle Diamond Council closes

Paso Robles, Calif.—The Indo Argyle Diamond Council (IADC), a by-invitation-only, paid-membership program for Indian diamond jewelry manufacturers, will close this December because it has "accomplished all of its goals," the organization has announced.According to the IADC, over its 15-year history, the program has raised the U.S. market's awareness of India's ability to manufacture high-quality, sellable diamond jewelry in price points from mass market to high end.One of the most significant signs of the program's success has been the tremendous increase of jewelry exports from India to North America. The amount of finished-jewelry exports has gone from approximately $300 million in 1994 to $2.3 billion in 2007, the IADC reports.Another successful aspect of the program was its ability to introduce and secure appointments between IADC members and major North American retail jewelers. This was accomplished more than 3,060 times leading to every major retailer now purchasing directly from Indian jewelry manufacturers, according to the IADC. Some of these appointments took place in India during IADC-sponsored buying trips with the IADC management team.

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