KGK Group
The KGK Group is a group with business interests and expertise ranging from global manufacture of diamonds, gemstones and jewellery to infrastructure and real estate development. The company has manufacturing units in India, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Botswana, Thailand and Russia. Offices are in 19 countries- Australia, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, China, Hong Kong, Israel, India, Japan, Mozambique, Namibia, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE and US.
History
The KGK Group, was founded by Shri Kesrimal Ji (1884 – 1956) and Shri Ghisilal Ji Kothari (1915 – 1975) of Jaipur (India) in 1905.
In 1915 KGK started trading coloured gemstones in Chennai, India. In 1960 Mr. Navrattan Kothari joined his father in KGK Group. KGK expanded its business in the 1970's by moving from trading of coloured gemstones to sparkling diamonds. And then to jewellery manufacturing in 1996.
In 1997, KGK was awarded Sightholder status by De Beers and became an authorized bulk purchaser of rough diamonds. It is in this year that KGK has setup and manages till date a single specialty state of the art cancer hospital in Jaipur, Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital & Research Centre opens in Jaipur. It is fully equipped to extend multi-disciplinary tertiary cancer care and is one of the largest cancer hospital in Northern India. In 2004 jewellery brand Entice by KGK Group launched in Hong Kong and later in India. It is now available in Bengaluru, Jaipur, Mumbai and New Delhi.
In 2005 KGK undertook the initiative to uplift Jal Mahal restoration and revitalization of Man Sagar Lake in Jaipur. In 2010 KGK launched real estate division in Jaipur.
In 2014 KGK opened diamond manufacturing unit in Botswana, Africa. Also, in this year KGK acquires worldwide manufacturing and distribution rights for USA brand, They already had licenses for Martin Flyer and Gregg Ruth. In 2014 KGK Diamonds signs long term contracts with Russian miner Alrosa making it a Alrosa Alliance member. It is in the same year that KGK went into strategic alliance for mining gemstones in Brazil and Mozambique for Paraiba, Emeralds and Rubellite.
In 2015 jewellery manufacturing unit established in Bangkok to produce silver pieces. KGK also acquired French jewellery brand KIROS.
In September, 2016 KGK Jewellery Manufacturing Ltd., the Hong Kong branch of KGK Group, received the award "Outstanding Company of the Year - Mainland China" within the JNA Award ceremony 2016. Also, in this month, the company has announced the signing of an agreement with ALROSA to develop [...] and polishing facilities in the Centre. The Eurasian Diamond Centre (EDC) project, based near the Free Port of Vladivostok envisages the setting up of a cluster of diamond companies which will conduct export-import operations with Asia-Pacific countries – starting with China, India, Japan, and South Korea. The creation of KGK’s new [...] and polishing facilities in Vladivostok is planned in July 2017.
Timeline
- 1962: Operations established in Hong Kong
- 1972: Launched coloured stones operations in USA
- 1975: Diamonds sourcing operations launched in Mumbai
- 1986: Diamonds processing operations established in Mumbai
- 1996: Jewellery manufacturing operations opens in SEEPZ, Mumbai
- 1997: KGK awarded Sightholder status by De Beers.
- 1999: Jewellery manufacturing unit established in Panyu, China
- 2002: Jewellery operations launched in India
- 2010: KGK real estate division launched in India.
- 2015: KGK Ausdiam formed by acquisition of Australian jewellery distributor.