Company: Bhindi Jewelers

The tale of Bhindi Jewelers is an epic saga of ambition, tenacity, and legacy that began almost a century ago. The story commenced when Karsanji Bhindi, a fifth-generation goldsmith from India, moved to the Fiji Islands with aspirations of showcasing his craft. In 1952, he and his brothers set up a small showroom in the Fijian city of Suva. Their unwavering dedication to quality and customer service led to the successful growth of the store, which in 1958 found its permanent home on Nina Street, establishing the brand “Bhindi Brothers”. Karsanji’s commitment to growth saw him embark on numerous land development projects, thus steadily expanding the family enterprise.

Under Karsanji’s tutelage, his three sons – Vinod, Jayent, and Dhanesh – learned the gold jewelry trade. Vinod, joining at just 15, became proficient in all aspects of the business from design to finance. By the age of 18, he had taken over the entire Bhindi Fiji operations from his father. In 1975, with the business flourishing in Fiji, the family decided to expand to North America, opening their first boutique in Vancouver, Canada. The Bhindi Jewelers brand gradually became the largest independent jewelry store in Western Canada. In pursuit of further growth, the brothers shifted their base to Southern California in 1984. They established a presence in “Little India”, Artesia, California, and gradually became a household name in the South Asian community.

The Bhindi legacy was destined to continue and evolve with the entry of the third generation into the family business. This new team, consisting of six members – Sanat, Ronil, Hitesh, Nikhil, Ketan, and Ashwin Bhindi – were all certified gemologists from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). These heirs to the jewelry empire brought their unique backgrounds and fresh perspectives to the business, ensuring it stayed at the forefront of innovation while maintaining the traditional values their grandfather had instilled. Bhindi Jewelers evolved into a one-stop-shop, from trading primarily in gold jewelry to custom-designed diamond pieces and high-end timepieces, thus providing an upscale and intimate retail experience for all clients. A testament to this evolution is their expanded showroom in Artesia, housing a vast collection of gold and diamond jewelry, along with luxury timepieces across two floors.