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GIA India organized its first-ever virtual alumni guest session with Dr. C. Vinod Hayagriv, Managing Director and Director of C. Krishniah Chetty (CKC) Group of Jewellers. The virtual session was attended by more than 100 alumni. He spoke about managing and evolving a retail brand with gemstones and diamonds over generations and the relevance amidst changes and challenges. Sriram Natarajan, Managing Director of GIA Sriram Natarajan, Managing Director of GIA, India started the session with a quick introduction of Dr. Hayagriv. He thanked Dr. Hayagriv and said ". “As the pioneers and the most respected institute for gemological education, GIA is extremely proud to be able to reach and engage with its alumni. The participants were excited to not just hear from a jeweler at the helm of a 150-year legacy, but also an alumnus. Dr. C. Vinod Hayagriv Dr. Hayagriv completed his Diamond & Colored Stone Diplomas from GIA’s Santa Monica, CA, USA, and Hong Kong campuses in 1982. During his presentation, Dr. Hayagriv talked about how CKC was established in 1869 and has been the jeweler of choice for several royal houses in India and around the world. He spoke about his passion for being a gemmologist, educating consumers about gemstones, and the importance of transparency to help build trust and consumer confidence. Dr. Hayagriv thanked Sriram Natarajan and Manoj Singhania for the initiative to create a platform for gemmologists to interact and learn from each other. He further quoted “I enjoyed the experience and Q&A session with Sriram and GIA alumni members. It was a great learning experience that allowed for the exchange of ideas between hundreds of gemmologists.” As a message to the GIA alumni, Dr. Hayagriv added, “Owing to our connection to GIA, it is our responsibility as gemmologists to uphold the principles that we have learned – to educate consumers, and to be ethical and sell with full disclosure.” Also, he learned several anecdotes including the first diamond sold by CKC and insights and experience about the future state of the luxury market, particularly high-end jewelry. Also, highlighted the challenges and opportunities presented by laboratory-grown diamonds. Amit Kapoor, GIA Graduate Gemologist (GG), AJP, Associate Vice President quoted " “GIA India Alumni Guest Session was one of the most uplifting webinars I have ever attended. The hosts were excellent, centered, and to-the-point. The speaker’s contribution to grounded knowledge in the real world, making it exceptionally relevant in today’s scenario.” Ramesh Davanam, GIA Diamonds Graduate and CEO, said “I’d like to thank GIA India for organizing the Alumni Guest Session. I’m also thankful to Dr. Vinod Hayagriv for sharing his knowledge with all the jewelers.” He further said " “Navratna is an important aspect of our businesses and jewelers should be well-informed about the gemstones to communicate its benefits to the consumers. Sankesh Surana, GIA GG and a jewelry and lifestyle designer stated “The GIA India Alumni Guest Session was truly knowledgeable and interesting. I was amazed by the beautiful quotes shared by Dr. Hayagriv, which was inspiring and effective,” and hoped to join such alumni events in the future. GIA Alumni The GIA Alumni Association's mission is to reach, serve, and engage GIA alumni through continuous networking; to encourage lifelong relationships, and provide opportunities for continuing education. GIA has more than 135,000 alumni across 65 chapters worldwide. Follow Mines to Market on Facebook: @minestomarket Follow Mines to Market on Instagram: @minestomarket Follow Mines to Market on Twitter: @minestomarket

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