How and when did you get interested in jewellery?
My mother is a collector and I think my aesthetic sense is closely linked with my heritage, which is from South India. I am a descendant of Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of the South. Being a creative person, vintage things inspire me. Shamaeel, the brand, is also very bold and makes a statement. I think my passion for jewellery is a very natural outcome of it. In style circles I am known for wearing antique pieces in a very out-of-the-box, unconventional manner. I’m very happy to wear vintage necklaces with modern clothes. My personal ensemble is always a vintage shawl paired with an antique piece of jewellery. I have a passion for collecting old pieces and I enjoy their provenance.
What are your favourite pieces of jewellery (precious or costume)?
I tend to go for vintage and classic pieces. I am not one for knick-knacks. If I buy something, it has to be bold, antique and regal.
Where did you get them from?
A lot of them, or at least the ones that I have collected, are from antique dealers in India. However, I also have some pieces that I have inherited and are special to me.
Is there any piece you are emotionally attached to and why?
Yes, I am emotionally attached to a gold choti (braid), which was made by Tipu Sultan himself for one of his wives, who happens to be my great-great-grandmother. This piece is a sort of braid covering, with a maatha pati attached to it.
Share a story with us about how you acquired one of your favourite pieces?
The most interesting story would have to be of the gold choti. It is a South Indian piece, originally from Mangalore and from Tipu Sultan’s era. It was passed on to the daughters of the family, never to a son, and through the years I’ve inherited it as the first daughter of my mother. It has engraving in gold and is set with emeralds. It is a genuine antique piece, which has stayed in the family for generations.
Is there anything on your radar that you want to get in the future?
Well, I have bought a lot of pieces, some of which include Golkanda diamonds, which are very raw as they are uncut. There are three solitaires that I’ve strung together in a very fine chain, which gives the stones a very classic and modern look at the same time. This piece also has history behind it. I like collecting pieces of polki, kundan, and meena kari. I have a passion for going on holidays and visiting places of historic importance. While travelling, I collect a few authentic, beautiful pieces and things for the house with a similar vintage feel.
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