Hetal Vakil Valia is an esteemed veteran, mentor, and thought leader in the gems and jewellery industry with over 35 years of professional experience. She holds prestigious certifications in gemmology and jewellery design from leading global and national institutes including Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA) and Gemmological Institute of India (GII).
Throughout her distinguished career, Hetal has played a pivotal role in shaping jewellery design, education, and retail across India and international markets. Notably, she served as the National Chairperson for the IBJA (Indian Bullion and Jewellers Association) Ladies’ Wing (2022–2024), where she led women's delegations and was instrumental in launching the Golden Girls Awards to celebrate promising female entrepreneurs. She also co-designed India’s first Gold Trend Book on behalf of the World Gold Council (WGC).
As a bespoke jewellery designer, Hetal manufactures custom handmade and cast jewellery featuring diamonds, colored gemstones, and uncut polkis for a global clientele, while also designing mass-market and high-end collections for India, the US, and the Middle East. Beyond design, she is a sought-after educator and consultant who has conducted extensive training in luxury sales, gemstone identification, and design for institutions and bodies such as GJEPC, GJSCI (under the Skill India initiative), IDI, SEEPZ manufacturers, and top retail chains.
A prominent voice in the industry, Hetal regularly moderates high-profile panel discussions, writes for leading trade publications, and serves as an expert jury member for prestigious platforms. She has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Inspirational Leader in Jewellery Designing and Mentorship award by Informa Markets (2024) and Excellence in Design and Mentorship by HJMA (2025).
