Skip to main content

Welcome to Edition 579 of Winc, IDMA’s Weekly Internet News Collection – August 21, 2026

Vasant Mehta, 1945-1981Reading Time: 4 minutes
Key takeaways

• The global diamond industry is mourning the passing of prominent leader and mentor Vasant Mehta.

• Vasant Mehta served as IDMA Vice President for over a decade and was elected Chairman of the GJEPC in 2008.

• He played a key role in guiding the Indian diamond industry and establishing its major role in the Kimberley Process and World Diamond Council.

Dear IDMA Members and Industry colleagues,

Vasant Mehta, 1945-1981

The board and members of the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) deeply mourn the passing of one of the global diamond industry and trade’s leaders and mentors, Vasant Mehta, who passed away earlier this week.

Vasant served as IDMA’s Vice President from 1998-2000 and then from 2002-2008, on behalf of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC). In 2008, he was elected GJEPC Chair. During his decade with IDMA, Vasant Mehta was instrumental in guiding the Indian diamond industry, as well as the country’s relevant governmental institutions and authorities, ensuring that India would play a major role in the Kimberley Process Certification System (KP) and in the World Diamond Council.

IDMA President Ronnie VanderLinden wrote: “Vasant Mehta’s leadership, wisdom, steadfast dedication and cool demeanor left an indelible mark on the global diamond industry. As Vice President of IDMA and a cherished friend and mentor to me and also to so many of us, his vision and integrity shaped our diamond and jewelry community for the better. His legacy of service and warmth will continue to inspire us all. Vasant will be sorely missed.”

Honorary IDMA President Jeffrey Fischer said, “Vasant was a fountain of wisdom, warmth, and support. While he generously showered those around him with these qualities, I always admired and will continue to treasure his sincerity. In any interaction with Vasant, he let you know where he stood. He didn’t leave you guessing what he was thinking, and he always did it with tact and respect. Vasant’s passing leaves us with a void. He will be missed.” 

Stephane Fischler, former President of the World Diamond Council and former President of the Antwerp World Diamond Center, who served both as IDMA’s Secretary General and Treasurer during that time, wrote a tribute to Vasant Mehta. Among others, he said: “For Vasant, serving the community and the industry was equally important as his successful business. Serving was his second nature, and I can say with much assurance that the Indian diamond industry owes him a huge debt of gratitude for his work with the government, pleading often successfully for the benefit of the Council’s best interests. I can only wish that his selflessness and generosity for the benefit of the many will be carried forward by the current generation, and more importantly, by the new generation who will understand the true value of living and giving back.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Vasant’s family and loved ones.

The post Welcome to Edition 579 of Winc, IDMA’s Weekly Internet News Collection – August 21, 2026 appeared first on Southern Jewelry News.



from Southern Jewelry News https://ift.tt/A8gZ14v
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

NRF Chief Economist weighs in on inflation and its impact on retail

(WASHINGTON) – Inflation is at a 40-year high but isn’t hitting all consumers as hard as top-line numbers might suggest, National Retail Federation (NRF) Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said yesterday. Nonetheless, consumer worries about rising prices could become self-fulfilling if workers demand higher wages to compensate and will play a role in the Federal Reserve’s efforts to bring inflation under control. “After decades of relatively low levels, inflation is on everyone’s mind and has been making consumers and businesses miserable as prices have picked up dramatically over the past year,” Kleinhenz said. “However you measure it, inflation has become a powerful force and plays a key role in the nation’s economic outlook.” “While actual price gains are expected to slow down in the coming months as they lap relatively high readings from the year before, the Fed is concerned about the risk of an unwanted jump in inflation expectations,” Kleinhenz said. “If consumers expect rampant i...
Read more

IAS Training introduces Retail Sales and Sales Management Munchies

Reading Time: < 1 minute Brad Huisken of IAS Training, frequent contributor to Southern Jewelry News and Mid-America Jewelry News, has announced a new, free weekly training newsletter – Retail Sales & Sales Management Munchies, Proven Strategies, Techniques and Principles to grow your business. The newsletter will debut March 28, 2025 and be delivered every Friday via email. The newsletter will provide sales and sales management strategies and techniques, designed to increase sales and profits. Huisken recommends that all jewelry store owners, managers and salespeople subscribe to this free training opportunity. Click here to subscribe . The post IAS Training introduces Retail Sales and Sales Management Munchies appeared first on Southern Jewelry News . from Southern Jewelry News https://ift.tt/JUtEAWg
Read more

The Retailer’s Perspective: It’s Showtime (Again)!

I just got home from the Atlanta Jewelry Show, and thought I’d share some thoughts and discoveries with everyone from the show. Here’s what you missed if you haven’t been to a trade show in a while. First and foremost… They are fun! The really cool thing about a trade show is the interaction with your longtime friends and business associates. I’ve got friends in this business that I’ve known for 43 years. Many of those friends I’ve only seen face-to-face 43 times – always at a trade show . A jewelry trade show is a hands-on experience. Most days I’m at the point that I don’t want to look at another piece of jewelry on a phone or computer screen. I don’t care how many pics you take, and how many angles you shoot it from, you never really capture the essence of the piece. Being real jewelers , we know the only way to evaluate, and assess, a piece’s true quality and workmanship is to hold it in our hands. A jewelry trade show is a full blown, hands-on, experience. We’ve all bought jew...
Read more