Shri Shikharchand Chodhry
Nagaur( Rajasthan ) to Japan a Success Story..............
This was World War II. Japan, a newly graduated textile engineer, Shri Shikhar Chandji Chodhry was all set to go to Japan for further studies. This was abruptly cancelled due to war sentiments in the East and the movement against the British.
In 1943, he joined his grandfather in the jewellery business. A few years later, he moved to Mumbai to expand the business. By the early fifties, Chodhry, intrigued by the beauty and bright possibilities of pearls, focused his resources on the production and sale of pearls with his brother, Shri Shreechandji in Bombay. To start, they bought natural pearls from Basara, Venezuela and Chunakhadi. It was in Chunakhadi that the chodhry brothers amassed incalculable experience and know-how in the manufacture of natural freshwater pearls.
By 1969, Shri Vidhan Chaudhari, the eldest son of Shri Shikharchand Chodhry, joined the pearl producing family and enriched it with his own visions. In 1973, Orient Pearl became the largest manufacture of small Akoya pearls. In the same year , the youngest son, Shri Devchand Chodhry graduated from the Gemological Institute of America, and brought his own expertise in the family business. The business grew and Chodhry family became the world's one of the biggest pearl manufacturing and exporting organisation of Japan and World.
Turning their attention to the Japanese market, the Chodhrys created la perle D' Orient in Kobe under the auspices of the flagship company. An active member of Japan's Junior Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Shri Devchand, the youngest, was named the president of La Perle D' Orient (Japan). This forward looking son developed a new product line of fine pearl jewellery targeted at wholesalers and retailers throughout Japan. The company is located at 2/2, 5-Chome Nakayamate-Dori Chuo-ku, Kobe, Japan. Tel : 81-78-341-3278 Fax : 81-78-341-3208. Shri Vidhan Chaudhari is an honoured member of the board of directors of the Japan Black pearl Promotion Association and president of Orient Pearl Co. Ltd.
Singapore was chosen as the location for the first overseas showroom outside Japan under the Presidentship of Shri Puran Chourdia. The first and only one of its kind, La Perle D' Orient Pte Ltd (The pearl Boutique) in Singapore was inaugurated on November 13, 1997 by Mrs. Jennifer Tan, the wife of the Honourable Mr. Tan Soo Khoon, Speaker of Parliament. Also present to grace the auspicious occasion, were the Ambassadors to Singapore, from India; H. E. Prem Singh, France; H. E. Francois Deslongchamps, Thailand; H. E. Adisak Panupong and the Philippines; H. E. Alberto Encomienda and members of the Jatia and Jhunjhnuwala families. Another boutique, Chodhari was recently opened at 8 rue de Tournon, 75006 Paris, France.
Inspite of low level of business presence in India entire family has been actively involved in religious & philanthropic activities in India through several institutions run by them. It is a matter of pride for entire the Jain Samaj to have in history, jewels like Sr. Shikharchand R. Chodhry & Sr. Vidhan Chaudhari who have created a mark of respect for their organization & themselves in the entire world.
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