GJEPC–Catawiki MoU to Open Access for Members to Catawiki’s Curated Auction Platform
The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Catawiki, Europe’s leading curated online marketplace for special and collectible objects. Formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at the IIJS Bharat Signature event, the collaboration represents a pivotal shift in India’s export approach, enabling a direct-to-consumer (D2C) pathway into the European luxury market. The MoU was signed by Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC, and Jan Van Dierman, Senior Vice President – Luxury, Catawiki.
Catawiki operates as a premium European online auction platform, specialising in rare, collectible, and high-value “special objects.” Unlike open marketplaces, its expert-curated model ensures stringent quality benchmarks and a refined luxury experience.
The partnership aims to directly connect Indian jewellery manufacturers with Europe’s high-net-worth consumers through a secure, auction-led digital ecosystem.
Central to Catawiki’s proposition is its panel of over 240 in-house experts. For Indian exporters, this translates into a structured and transparent selling process, including expert review of listings based on images and descriptions prior to launch, mandatory certification for high-value jewellery—typically above €5,000—and non-binding price estimates that help position products competitively within the European market.
Catawiki offers strong access to the EU luxury consumer base, supported by robust engagement metrics. The platform attracts more than 10 million unique visitors each month, with nearly two-thirds of listed items selling within ten days of auction commencement. Available in 17 languages, it enables Indian exporters to engage buyers across key European markets such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in their native languages.
The MoU is expected to significantly level the playing field for Indian exporters. Traditionally, penetrating European retail markets required substantial investment in physical infrastructure or complex distribution networks. Through this collaboration, MSMEs gain international visibility without heavy marketing expenditure, benefit from improved margins by eliminating intermediaries, and access real-time consumer insights that inform design, pricing, and material choices aligned with evolving European preferences.
Aligned with India’s ambition of achieving $50 billion in gem and jewellery exports, the GJEPC–Catawiki partnership marks a progressive step forward. By leveraging Catawiki’s established European reach, the initiative goes beyond product exports—bringing India’s craftsmanship, heritage, and design legacy directly to global collectors.