I Fear For This Boy- Some Chapters of Accidents, by Theo Fennell.

Theo Fennell, thank you. For giving me a good laugh each time I picked up your book and turned the pages. How did you manage to capture and re-tell your story with such humour? 

Truly a story of “Carpe Diem!” while aiming for the stars. Of course with a glass or (better yet) a bottle in hand, together with like minded friends, on a never ending carousel… who could ask for more.

For me, it was a reminder to never take myself too seriously in this short life of ours and to take risks while remaining humble.

I devoured ‘Some Chapters of Accidents’, a life well lived, moving from a little to everything, and all the while creating the most charming, whimsical and decadent jewels for people to enjoy. 

Cartier, a much loved and familiar luxury brand began as a family business. Within these pages lie the story behind the sparkle! 

I inched my way forward with this one due to time constraints. Right now in Sri Lanka we are living through a severe economic crises (to say the least). It was amazing to read how the Cartiers navigated a “luxury business” through extreme economic conditions and competition – through two world wars which devastated nations, creating poverty and long breadlines. They did this by adapting their design, marketing strategies and *relying on each other* in different parts of the world – in an attempt to thrive and at times to simply survive the shifting of wealth and attitudes. 

It’s a true rags to riches story written by the granddaughter of Jean Jacques Cartier. I loved all of their gem and design adventures in Sri Lanka and India and the stories of the Maharajas, Kings, and Princesses. 

The story spans four generations of the Cartiers, their private lives and struggles.

As the business expanded overseas, the new generation grew up apart, disconnected to each other without the shared bonds, values and business ethos their fathers had shared and worked towards. This is what drove the business to be sold part by part until it was completely out of the family ownership in 1972.

♥ worth every hour spent each day after breakfast to finish it :)) 

Elsa Peretti. The first jewelry designer who’s work I truly loved. 

As I write this the rain is pouring, in streaks and at an angle, right across my view of undulating green with majestic trees, soaking it all up. It’s a welcome respite after  weeks of scorching, humid, tropical heat. The brightly coloured birds flitting from tree to tree steal my attention. I find myself unconsciously connecting a gemstone to their brightly coloured feathers.

Nature is also what inspired Elsa Peretti. The legendary Italian designer sadly passed on earlier this March in Spain at the age of 80. While we know this human life is temporary and cannot be forever, death always takes us by surprise and (more…)

Chatoyancy.

The word Chatoyancy is derived from the French ‘chat’ which means cat and ‘oeil’ which means eye. Cat’s Eye.

The gemstones above are Chrysoberyl Cats Eyes. One is in honey colour and the other in bluish green. This image was captured under the bright tropical sunlight in my garden to capture the defined eye, the band of light. In the shade, the honey coloured chrysoberyl looks like the colour of a comforting sparrow – a gentle, soft brownish hue with a hint of the yellow beak mixed in. I bought these several years ago while visiting a mine in Sri Lanka. 

The band of light that you see lies at 90 degrees of and over an abundant amount of fine needle like inclusions lying in a (more…)

Truly – Of Imaginations and Dreams, Lydia Courteille’s creations are fantastical and whimsical!

Yet what struck me most was her story about Science being her true passion. She has a double degree in Haematology and she was in the world of Science for ten whole years before she delved into the world of (more…)

The Lapis Lazuli ring.

The beautiful midnight blue with gold flecks on it. The patches of gold are known as “fools gold”… It’s actually Pyrite, the mineral that shimmers similar to that of gold.

Set in 18k, it reminds me that in life –

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Throwback to a showing of jewels by Gianmaria Buccellati ! I dug this experience out from my 2017 pictures of the Summer in Italy.

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Some more Instagram vintage favourites. Pieces that have outlived their creators and their owners… and still capture the imaginations of those who set eyes on them.

The above is from @theedencollective “A close up of this fancy little guy. Antique rose cut diamonds and ruby studded mandolin player. I always love the musicians. Be still my <3”

*Look at the flow of the coat, along with the rubies.

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Whoever said jewellery, as a symbol of love had to be a costly affair!

I remember a flat mate of mine in London saying “it’s not the jewel, it’s the giver that matters”.

Over this weekend while my mother in law was reminiscing about old times, she happened to come (more…)

I used to think every stone was a precious gem if you cut it and gave it facets.

I stumbled upon Trishala Ashok, the Bangalore based jewellery designer, on the GIA site. What a treat for the eyes! Just look at the peacock earrings above! That image is what stopped me in my tracks:)

She was drawn to jewellery during a vacation in the U.S. with her family. Trishala was inspired by the (more…)