The Diamond Information Center of Diamond Trading Company, a unit of De Beers, has strung together an exclusive collection of Vivaha diamond jewelry for India, the Asia Africa Intelligence Wire reported.

It has sewn up plans to launch the Solitaire collection of De Beers and diamond collection platinum jewelry, the wire service reported.

Presented under the diamond Vivaha jewelry range for 2001, the collection has been brought to Hyderabad by Meena Jewellers, one of the oldest establishments in Hyderabad, the wire service reported.

Ms Devika Gidwani, Director of Diamond Information Center, said DIC puts together a collection each year that premiers trends for the forthcoming wedding season. While the guidelines for design were given to all major jewelry houses across India, they are responsible for these latest creations, the wire service reported.

Cleopatra, Eternity, Aura of light, Sangam, Mesh- menzed, and Aura are among the range of collections encompassing latticed necklace in yellow gold to three dimensional necklaces, bridal necklaces and muted yellow gold necklaces.

Based on research conducted across India, the trends in bridal jewelry today indicate that diamonds are definitely favored.

The research showed 83% of the brides indicated a preference to wear diamonds on their wedding day, Ms Gidwani said.

Brides are showing a preference for diamond mangalasutras and diamond rings as popular pieces of jewelry that are becoming an enduring tradition. While there is no clear estimate, a 20% growth is estimated this year, she told the wire service.

JCK