Editor’s Note
This article highlights the enduring significance of Jaipur’s historic Johari Bazaar, a cornerstone of India’s artificial jewelry trade. Its daily commerce in precious gems and seasonal surges during weddings underscore its vital economic and cultural role.
Jaipur’s walled city area is famous worldwide for its grand markets. Located within this area, the 80-year-old precious gem market of Johari Bazaar is considered the backbone of the artificial jewelry industry. Every day, traders from across the country arrive here to trade in gems like diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, pearls, rubies, topaz, and kundan. During the wedding season, the increased demand for artificial jewelry multiplies the vibrancy and business of this market several times over, propelling Jaipur’s jewelry market to new heights.
Jaipur’s Johari Bazaar is famous for its standing auctions and rapid deal closures. Synthetic spinel, ruby, moissanite, and glass gemstones are bought and sold here. This market, with over 300 shops, attracts buyers from all over the world.
Jaipur’s walled city market is globally renowned for its magnificent markets, offering excellent shopping for all kinds of goods. However, the 80-year-old precious gem market located in Jaipur’s Johari Bazaar is considered particularly crucial for Jaipur’s jewelry and artificial jewelry market. Due to persistent volatility in gold and silver prices, Jaipur’s artificial jewelry market is now advancing rapidly. During the wedding season, demand for artificial jewelry here surges significantly. In this context, this gem market in Johari Bazaar, which is Jaipur’s most unique market, is essential for meeting heavy demand and facilitating large-scale trade.
Every day, hundreds of people from different parts of India arrive here to trade precious stones like quartz, agate, shell, sulemani stone, diamond, emerald, sapphire, pearl, ruby, topaz, and kundan. The Local 18 team visited this special gem market in Johari Bazaar and spoke to people trading precious stones for artificial jewelry.
Johari Bazaar in Jaipur is not only the largest jewelry market in Jaipur but in the entire state of Rajasthan, trading everything from precious gems set in gold and silver to the sparkling stones used in artificial jewelry. Every day, small and large traders buy and sell diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, pearls, rubies, topaz, and kundan. In this special precious gem market, people start bidding on stones from the morning itself and, within a short time, finalize deals and get busy with their work. The trade of precious gems in this special market at Johari Bazaar happens while standing, which amazes onlookers.
Here, local jewelry artisans from Jaipur arrive in the greatest numbers for trade because these precious stones and gems are used in artificial jewelry. Therefore, only artisans associated with artificial jewelry have the expertise to identify and assess these special gems. It should be noted that this market in Johari Bazaar has no specific name. People come here from far and wide with their precious stones, conduct trade, and return. The market offers precious stones like synthetic spinel, synthetic ruby, moissanite, and glass gems. Later, these are cut and finished using machines, after which they are used in artificial jewelry.
Jaipur’s artificial jewelry is in demand worldwide, which is why Johari Bazaar is such a center for artificial jewelry, with over 300 shops in one place. People from all over the world come here to buy artificial jewelry. The jewelry available here is handmade, and its beauty particularly attracts women. Johari Bazaar has existed since the settlement of Jaipur and has since maintained its distinct identity worldwide for jewelry.
The handmade jewelry here is prepared using various types of pearls, kundan, and diamonds, and its sparkle is exactly like real jewelry. Speaking of price, people can buy artificial jewelry ranging from 100 rupees to 5,000 rupees depending on different designs and ornaments. There is demand for Jaipur’s beautiful ornaments all over the world, and Jaipur’s artificial jewelry is also extensively used in big Bollywood films.