Key Highlights
- Rapaport Corporation has organised its first pre-auction diamond viewing event in India in over 15 years.
- The four-day event is being held from 13–16 July 2026 at Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC, SEEPZ, Mumbai.
- Nearly 14,000 carats of pre-owned natural diamonds from the United States are available for viewing.
- The initiative has been enabled by the Government of India’s expanded Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) framework.
- More than 60 buyers are expected to participate in the inaugural Rapaport Melee Auction.
- The event strengthens India’s position as an emerging global hub for international diamond trading and sourcing.
In a significant development for India’s diamond trade, the country has hosted its first international pre-auction diamond viewing event, marking a new chapter in its journey towards becoming a global diamond trading hub. The four-day event, organised by Rapaport Corporation, USA, in collaboration with the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), is being held from 13–16 July 2026 at the Bharat Ratnam Mega Common Facilitation Centre (Mega CFC), SEEPZ, Mumbai.
The event represents far more than a diamond viewing exhibition. It is the first major international initiative to leverage the Government of India’s expanded Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) framework at the Mega CFC, enabling international diamond viewing, warehousing and pre-auction inspections within India.
For decades, Indian buyers interested in participating in global diamond auctions were often required to travel overseas for inspections before bidding. The new policy framework now allows such viewing activities to be conducted domestically, improving accessibility while strengthening India’s position within the international diamond trade.
The inaugural Rapaport Melee Auction features nearly 14,000 carats of pre-owned natural diamonds sourced from the United States. More than 60 buyers are expected to participate during the four-day viewing event.
Winning bidders will be notified within 24 hours of the auction, with payments due within three working days, after which the diamonds will be shipped from New York to successful buyers.
The event was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Dnyaneshwar Patil, IAS, Development Commissioner, SEEPZ-SEZ, along with Colin Shah, Chairman of the Working Group, Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC; Bharat Ghori, Co-Convenor – MSME, GJEPC; Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC; and Ravi Menon, CEO of Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC.
The initiative highlights the growing importance of the Bharat Ratnam Mega CFC as a world-class infrastructure project designed to facilitate international trade, improve ease of doing business and strengthen India’s competitiveness in the global gem and jewellery industry.
Industry observers believe the successful hosting of international pre-auction viewing events could encourage more global diamond companies to utilise India’s infrastructure for future trading activities, reinforcing Mumbai’s position as one of the world’s leading centres for the natural diamond industry.
As India continues to modernise its trade infrastructure and regulatory framework, initiatives such as the Rapaport Melee Auction demonstrate how policy reforms can translate into new business opportunities, greater global participation and improved market access for the Indian diamond trade.
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