A legacy of 30+ years, ranked 19th in the Global Powers of Luxury Goods Report—Malabar Gold & Diamonds brings the craftsmanship of Indian jewellery to Australia!

Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, MD – International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds shares insight into Malabar Gold & Diamonds brand in an interview with Indus Age.

Enlighten us more about yourself and your journey with Malabar Gold & Diamonds. Tell us about the Malabar Gold & Diamonds brand.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds is the flagship brand of Malabar Group. Established in 1993 in the Indian state of Kerala, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has now gone on to become the 6th largest jewellery retailer globally with over 340 showrooms across 13 countries. The international operations of Malabar Gold & Diamonds began in 2008 with the opening of our first showroom in Sharjah, UAE. I began my journey with Malabar Gold & Diamonds serving as the Managing Director of International operations. Since our venture into the international jewellery arena, we have established a robust presence in GCC, Far East, UK, USA, Canada & most recently Australia. The entirety of our international operations is based out of the Malabar International Hub (MIH) in Dubai, Gold Souq.

Why did Malabar Gold & Diamonds decide to enter the Australia market?

One of the major objectives behind our international expansion is to spread the famed craftsmanship of Indian jewellery to all corners of the globe. Being a major proponent of the Indian Government initiative “Make in India; Market to the World”, our actions have been incredibly consequential in enhancing the popularity of Indian-made jewellery amongst a global audience. Our decision to venture into Australia follows a similar line of thinking with the large diaspora of the Indian sub-continental audience residing in the country presenting us with a market with great potential. We are the first Indian international jewellery retailer in Australia and we aim to create a major shift in the country’s jewellery landscape.

Where can we find Malabar Gold & Diamonds? Why did you choose this location? How did you launch?

Our first showroom here is located at 109 Wigram Street within the Little India Precinct in Harris Park, Sydney. Sydney has a significant population of residents from the Indian subcontinent, making it an ideal starting point for us to promote our wide variety of products & offerings. The showroom was inaugurated by Australian Cricketer Brett Lee last month and the response from jewellery lovers in the region was overwhelming, garnering a significant crowd.

How has Malabar Gold & Diamonds’ entry into the Australia market been going so far?

We have been receiving an incredible response from jewellery lovers in Australia, with customers flocking to our store to indulge in our offerings. The exquisite and wide variety of collections on display, along with our host of customer-centric and transparent policies will become a major defining feature of Australia’s jewellery market in the years to come.

Tell us about what is available to purchase at Malabar Gold & Diamonds Harris Park?

Malabar Gold & Diamonds has over 25 exclusive brands and collections that include Gold, Diamonds, Precious Gems, and Platinum jewellery—such as MINE Diamond jewellery, Era uncut diamond jewellery, Divine Indian heritage jewellery, Ethnix handcrafted antique jewellery, Precia precious gem jewellery, and Viraaz royal polki jewellery, among others—the showroom features an extraordinary selection of designs. Special attention has been paid to the diverse tastes and preferences of jewellery buyers, ensuring a broad assortment of jewellery suitable for occasional, and everyday wear. Having adorned over 10 million brides over 30 years, we also have an exquisite bridal jewellery collection on display, with a bespoke jewellery designing facility as well, through which prospective brides can bring their dream jewellery to life with the help of our expert designers and craftsmen.

What are the major and emerging trends in jewellery, gold, and diamonds?

While traditional jewellery buying has remained largely unchanged over the years, there has been a steady increase of millennials and Gen-Z amongst our customer base, preferring to buy trendy and lightweight jewellery in the lifestyle category as opposed to heavy pieces. Diamond jewellery is also growing in popularity amongst jewellery enthusiasts, owing to which we introduced a 100% Value on Diamond exchange policy. With the new policy, the investment value of diamonds is on par with its aspirational value.

Over the years, there has been an enhanced emphasis on responsibly and sustainably sourced products. At Malabar Gold & Diamonds, ethical and responsible sourcing has been a key tenet of our operations. With the exclusive usage of 100% traceable raw materials in our jewellery, we ensure strict compliance with international standards for transparent gold and diamond sourcing set by globally recognized organisations such as LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) and World Gold Council.

What are your future plans for Australia?
We have a very ambitious expansion plan in the region, with the second showroom in Australia being planned in Melbourne. Since our debut in Sydney has been welcomed with open arms, we are confident of carrying forward this success to become the most preferred jewellery retailer in Australia.

Any other special news and information you would like to share with Indus Age readers?
Malabar Gold & Diamonds has received yet another momentous accolade; we have been ranked 19th in the Global Powers of Luxury Goods report that was recently published by Deloitte. The report ranks the Top 100 players in the Luxury retail sector, with LVMH bagging the top spot. We are also the highest-ranked Indian brand amongst the 6 that were placed on the list. This is a further testament to our influential presence in the international jewellery sector.