Adorn - November - December 2015

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When diamonds were first found in India in 800 BC, it was believed that altering their original form would diminish their sacramental potency. So, it came to be that Indians wore diamonds almost in their natural state – polkis, rose cuts and slices. As the allure of diamonds spread throughout the world, ingenious skills and technical advancements went into inventing different cuts to celebrate its fire and sparkle – the brighter it shone the greater its value. Today, we are seeing a resurgence of polkis and rose cuts, which feature prominently in the creations of some of the world’s biggest jewellery designers. The jewellery showcased in our Cover Feature, too, exudes raw elegance—uncut diamonds or polkis in a kundan (bezel) setting intermingle with diamond slices and rose cuts.
Taking the theme forward is Style Quotient, which displays jewellery by the famed jewellery house The Gem Palace of Jaipur. Polkis, rose cuts, and large cabochon gems enrich the iconic antique-looking pieces created by Samir Kasliwal.
Mesmerising Art Nouveau jewellery from the turn of the 19th century reflects the changing role of women in a rapidly evolving society in the Victorian era. Women were the driving force and inspiration behind art jewellery. The exhibition “Maker & Muse: Women & Early Twentieth Century Art Jewelry” at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum, Chicago is featured in Museum Tour. Of the many breathtaking exhibits, some are being publicly shown for the very first time.
In Creative Charisma, we present the theatrical works of the legendary British designer Anabela Chan, whose nature-inspired jewellery is inundated with colourful gemstones.