The Byrex difference
In his 29 years in the industry, Poddar has served on various boards including the International Colored Gemstone Association (ICA), Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA), and American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), and has created a vast international network with a specific expertise in sourcing both rare and exotic gemstones.
Byrex Gems has facilities in India and a close network with suppliers in other major trade centres in Hong Kong and the U.S. Thanks to technology, maintaining these relationships and following through on customer orders is easier than ever.
“We don’t look at the value of an order; we look at how best we can serve the customer. We could be ordering a stone worth $100 today and tomorrow a stone worth $100,000, but any order is taken as seriously as the next.”
With its network, Byrex Gems prides itself on efficiency. “We have access to the rarest of the stones. When it comes to sourcing a specific gemstone for a client, like an insurance claim or any other unique demand, we are known for being efficient and professional,” Poddar says.
Indeed, Byrex Gems only works with well-established industry members with a proven track record. Most suppliers are dealers who have been in the industry for generations and have a significant presence in the industry. When it comes to credibility, especially in the jewellery sector, ethics and reputation are everything.
“We recognize the value of transparency, integrity, and trust in our own business. They mean everything to us,” says Poddar. “We rely primarily on Gemological Institute of America (GIA) reports and other established labs’ reports.”
In addition, Byrex also employs in-house gemmologists who evaluate stones and make sure they agree with what the various reports say.
Staying innovative
According to Poddar, when looking at a gemstone, the stone’s brilliance is one of the most important factors to be considered. As a gemstone supplier, the company is always researching new designs and faceting methods to create a more brilliant stone. “This is how we heard about concave faceting,” explains Poddar.
If a stone has concave faceting, hundreds of small facets have been cut into the stone side by side to create a concave shape. “We subcontracted to undertake research in developing new faceting patterns in stones in India and Hong Kong. Our new cut, the trademarked Optix cut, was the result of this experiment,” says Poddar. “We are probably the only company supplying the concave cut, under our brand name, Optix, in mass production.”
One of the company’s secrets to success has been its ability to adapt to the industry’s changing needs. More importantly, Byrex Gems has been able to see these changes, whether it’s introducing an online catalogue or an incoming trend, ahead of time and “meet the forthcoming demands before everybody else can catch up” says Poddar.
At the end of the day, the company’s success was built on Poddar’s belief in honesty, trust, and commitment. “We are professionals, we’re fair, and ethical. This has allowed us to continue to grow our business.”
