The Times

Luxury with Lucia

22-09-2006

Anybody who’s ever been to Jaipur knows the Gem Palace. It’s what is fondly known as an institution. The Kasliwal family, who run it to this day, were originally court jewellers to the Moghul emperors — those were the days when the most magnificent jewels were reserved for the men.
 

In a city where jewellery seems to be the main commercial activity, the Gem Palace is in a class of its own. If you like a bit of risk-taking, there are cheaper ways to buy. You can have lots of fun poking around the workshops and small shops, but if you want guaranteed value and like a certain provenance with your jewellery purchases, then the Gem Palace on the M.I. Road is the place to go. When I was there buying a ring, I met one of the owners, Munnu Kasliwal, who designs many of the Gem Palace’s newer pieces. He told me: “Before Independence we used to sell to the royal families. After Independence they started selling back to us.”
 

Indian jewellery, as anybody who has ever been to the country will know, is quite distinctive. It’s usually richer coloured, more exuberant and more lavish than its European counterparts. It will not pander to your inner minimalist. Indians, and the craftsmen of Jaipur in particular, love gorgeous stones and, one senses, the bigger the better.
 

Besides the joyousness of the colours, there are other things that distinguish Indian jewellery. The pieces are usually as beautifully finished and as richly ornate on the inside as on the outside. Hindus believe that it is not merely the eye but the whole body that can see, so it is important that beauty be everywhere.
 

On top of that, the jewellery often has mythological or symbolic meaning. Stones represent different planets, pearls control temperament, emeralds boost intelligence and some gemstones can ward off evil or bring luck. Indian stone-cutters have developed some distinctive cuts — the most well-known being the rose-cut diamond, which has a distinctive look and gives you more bling for your carat.
 

For details of Gem Palace ranges, go to www. gempalacejaipur.com

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