The new Rajasthan jewellery collection by Zoya
text by Preeta Agarwal
Zoya
is a chain of luxury diamond jewellery boutiques in India owned by
the TATA conglomerate and is the premium brand of the Tanishq
jewellery business. Zoya is both a product and a retail brand and
is targeted at the discerning, design-conscious woman who is
international in her taste. The boutiques offer mainly diamond
jewellery as well as the traditional polki and kundan
jewellery.
In Zoya boutiques you will find inspirations from around the
world coming together in precious creations. Ancient cultures. A
forgotten relic. A sensual dance. An exotic fabric. A sudden burst
of rain. Zoya captures the soul of these inspirations with expert
craftsmanship and immortalizes them in fine designs of gold,
diamonds and precious stones each awaiting its turn to share its
own story.
One of their most remarkable collections is 'Rajasthan', a
collection inspired by the city of Bikaner. Nestled in the magical
landscape of The Great Thar Desert, Bikaner has been witness to
changing dynasties, epic battles and a confluence of diverse
cultures. Beneath the surface of the region's enigmatic beauty that
the untrained tourist eye merely glances over, lies a myriad of
influences: Arabian, Persian, Mughal and even Western.
By translating this fascinating cultural potpourri into an
elegant, traditional collection of kundan and polki jewellery, Zoya
captures the many moods of the desert kingdom of Bikaner. 'Kundan'
is one of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India is
made from 22 carat gold. Its defining moment was during the Mughal
era and many stunning pieces were created in this era. Kundan work
is a method of gem setting, consisting of inserting gold foil
between the stones and its mount. It is a product of
well-orchestrated teamwork and involves a variety of specialist
skills.
Uncut flat diamonds called 'Polki' are also used in most
products. To give a well-groomed finish, the reverse sides of the
products are beautifully decorated by a technique called
'Meenakari'.
Most products in this collection use a floral form
language inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Rajasthan. The
interesting names of each product also enhance the significance of
Indian culture in each one. Where 'Indradhanush' (rainbow) depicts
of the beauty of a rainbow through its array of colors, 'Utsav'
(festival) with its vibrant tones give a feeling of celebration.
This confluence of design and enticing names and inspiration make
the Rajasthan collection stand out from the crowd.