The awardees with other dignitaries and guests

Two leading US-based Palanpuri diamantaires, Sandeep Shah and Tejas Shah, were recognized with ‘Business Leadership Awards” at the Jewelry Industry Symposium hosted by The Indian Diamond & Colorstone Association (IDCA) on Saturday, November 19th, 2022 at the Consulate of India, New York. 
 

Sandeep is President & CEO of Sandeep Diamond Corporation and son of Kanubhai B. Shah of KBS Group, while Tejas is CEO, Unique Designs Inc., son of Mukesh Jayantilal Shah who had a jewellery business in New York and grandson of Jayantilal Jivraj Shah.

The event was addressed by Consul General of India, New York – Randhir Jaiswal, Ms. Jamie Singleton, Group President & CCO, Signet Jewelers who presented the Keynote Address, Guest of Honour, Ronnie VanderLinden, President IDMA and House of Representative, Congresswoman Grace Meng, New York City Commissioner of International Affairs, Edward Mermelstein and Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs, Dilip Chauhan among others.

Sandeep Shah (c) receiving the award

During the felicitation IDCA noted, “Sandeep Shah established Sandeep Diamond Corporation and has led the organization since its inception in 1986. It is strategically aligned with the KBS Group based in India, which was founded by Sandeep’s father Kanubhai B. Shah in 1975. The KBS Group, a fourth generation family run organization, is one of the largest exporters of fine jewelry out of SEEPZ, and is at the vanguard of diamond jewelry distribution and key alignments with retailers in the continental United States, Canada and South America.”
 

Sandeep also serves as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Trustees of Jain Center of America, New York, a Temple he has been associated with since 1986. 

 Tejas Shah (c) receiving the award

The IDCA also said, “Tejas Shah, CEO of Unique Designs is one of the forward thinkers in our industry. As part of the Kiran Group of companies as their US counterpart, it is the #1 jewelry wholesaler in the U.S. The company was recognized as the highest importer of diamond jewelry from India by the U.S Govt for the past 3 consecutive years. Over the past decade, Unique Designs, Inc. has integrated and acquired a slew of companies and these fast, but carefully planned synergies, have helped it evolve into a one-stop shop for retailers across the U.S. from mall jewelers to online retailers, wholesale clubs, independent jewelers & catalog houses.”
 

In addition to the major presentations the symposium also included a Panel Discussion on "State of the Diamond & Jewelry Industry".  The panel included Sandeep Shah and Tejas Shah as well as Amish Shah, President, ALTR Created Diamonds and Anubh Shah, CEO, With Clarity. The discussion was moderated by noted Diamond Industry Analyst & Consultant, Paul Zimnisky.