Jamie Dunton and Gabriella Botelho are the first graduates of the program, created by the WJA Foundation and Julius Klein Diamonds.
Anil Dholakia, Gem Trader and Founding Member of AGTA, Dies
He also played a part in establishing the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers show in Tucson in 1974.
Franklin, N.C.—Anil B. Dholakia, longtime wholesale gem merchant and a founding member of the American Gem Trade Association, died June 10.
He was 85 years old.
Dholakia was born Nov. 23, 1933, in Baroda, India to Balkrishna and Shanta Dholakia.
He started his jewelry career at the age of 16, cutting gemstones in Mumbai and specializing in garnet and star ruby.
In 1957, Dholakia moved to Japan, spending three years in the gemstone trade there while also traveling to Burman, Singapore and Thailand. He relocated to the United States in 1960, residing first in New York City with his wife, Savita Dholakia.
He started his business as Adris Oriental Gem & Art Corp. in the early ‘60s and began doing trade shows all over the country, traveling to as many as 90 a year.
Dholakia was one of 12 gem dealers dubbed the “Dirty Dozen” who helped establish a new satellite gem show in Tucson, Arizona in February 1974, the Gem & Lapidary Wholesalers show, or G&LW. He was the youngest and last living member of the group, according to an online obituary.
He also was one of the founding members of the AGTA when it formed in Tucson in 1981 and served as a director of the association.
In 1994 he moved to Franklin, North Carolina, where he worked in the wholesale gem and jewelry business as Anil B. Dholakia Inc.
Dholakia had a passion for traveling to source new gemstones, and enjoyed buying and selling as well as taking part in trade shows around the world. His work took him to Japan, Hong Kong, Brazil, India, China, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Korea, Ethiopia and many other locations.
He was actively involved in his business until early 2017. His daughter, Varshana Dholakia-McGaughey, will continue to run the company under its current name.
He was a leader in the trade and loved helping people get into the business, paving the way in the gemstone sector for the Indian community. He also received numerous awards from the industry, including the Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association honoring him as a leader in 2005.
Outside of the jewelry industry, Dholakia enjoyed cooking and entertaining friends and family at his home. He was married to his late wife for 63 years.
He had a degree in economics and did graduate studies
AGTA CEO Doug Hucker said: “Anil was a gentle person and a gentleman and was always willing to help new people come into the organization. He will be greatly missed.”
Dholakia is survived by his daughter, Varshana (Earl McGaughey); son Ketan Dholakia; son Samrat Dholakia (Donna); grandsons Shawn, Raja and Andrew; granddaughters Isabel and Caroline; sister, Pramila Sullivan; and nephew, William.
The Latest
In the spirit of giving, Retrouvaí will donate $4,000 from the sale of this ring to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Co-owner Dan DeVries shared what it’s like moving into a space triple the size of its old store and how it feels to be a “real jeweler” now.
A Diamond is Forever hosted a holiday celebration in honor of their new marketing campaign, ‘Forever Present.’
Along with the latest “Gardens” collection, the brand has released limited-edition designs offering more indulgent pieces.
The man and woman are accused of stealing jewelry from a shipping container then trying to flee by paddling a small boat out into a bay.
The nearly 17-carat stone made history for the color-change gem that, according to the auction house, is experiencing a “notable surge” in the market.
‘Forever Present’ campaign revives the iconic A Diamond is Forever tagline and celebrates the diamond dream.
More than a century after survivors gifted a Tiffany timepiece to the captain of the ship that rescued them, the jeweler has reclaimed it.
The videos highlight how pieces from the “Xpandable” and “Reversible Xpandable” collections put the wearer in the spotlight.
Feldman reflected on 45 years in the jewelry industry and clarified that it’s not a total retirement.
The luxury brand is being honored for excellence in high jewelry design in its “Haute Joaillerie Sport” collection.
Circelli was a pioneer in the world of TV shopping who is remembered for his passion for gemstones and his big personality.
The nearly 6-carat stone headlined the recent jewelry auction, which also featured Mica Ertegun’s jewelry.
The three men, who got their nickname because they’d toss the jewelry they stole into black plastic bins, were arrested back in August.
“The History of Diamond Engagement Rings: A True Romance” is a 128-page small-format book containing more than 165 images.
Gearys opened a 6,200-square-foot Rolex store with a design that pays homage to the brand’s connection to the ocean.
The diamond cut grade is now available for marquise- and pear-shaped diamonds.
DDG said the honorees’ business practices embody a commitment to positive social impact, industry innovation, and community empowerment.
Estimates on the size and value of the solitaire diamond, which is mounted on a diamond pavé-set yellow gold band, vary.
These half-moon tanzanite earrings totaling 25 carats are part of a special trunk show taking place this weekend in Dallas.
The National Jeweler editors recap the top news, the best jewels, and their favorite stories of the year.
The highest-grossing lot of the sale was the retired QB’s Rolex Paul Newman Daytona “John Player Special.”
Recent expansion initiatives at the Zambian emerald mine have shown strong production numbers, said Grizzly founder Abdoulaye Ndiaye.
Carrie Forman joins the brand to guide it into the next phase of growth with major and independent retailers in the U.S. and abroad.
The competition awarded 12 designers, each from a country where De Beers recovers diamonds, with business support and tuition assistance.
The high jewelry collection features 14 one-of-a-kind pieces, with serpent and ribbon motifs winding their way through the collection.