Diamonds surely are a girl’s best friend. And when those diamonds tell a story, they become even more valuable. Recently, Zoya, the exquisite diamond boutique from the House of Tatas, introduced its new collection, Rooted — an exquisite line up of over 45 pieces for the modern sophisticate. The stunning new collection was virtually launched by celebrated designer Gauri Khan, who was joined by Ajoy Chawla, CEO of Titan’s Jewellery Division, and Titan’s Chief Design Officer, Revathi Kant.
With Rooted, the luxury brand celebrates the journey of the Zoya woman as she reconnects with her feminine self. Breaking free from the confines of patriarchal expectations she chooses to go within to draw strength and sustenance. Taking inspiration from rainforests, the motifs range from clusters of flowers, meticulously recreated to mirror the intricacy of the original, to exotic birds — their majestic plumage perched upon pendants and fluttering from earrings. Colour plays an indispensable role in the collection. The gemstones traverse the entire spectrum, including emeralds, sapphires, tanzanites, tourmalines, pink opals, rose quartz, peridots, rock crystals, iolites, turquoises and chrysoprase. The myriad cuts display the breadth of Zoya’s artistry, ranging from custom cut carved stones and cabochons to beads and faceted stones.
Speaking about the new collection, Ajoy Chawla says, “With Zoya, we are redefining luxury jewellery as a personalised and purposeful connection with our customers. The muse for the new collection is the Zoya woman – a nurturer, a caregiver, a dreamer and an ambitious go-getter. We see her breaking free from patriarchal and societal expectations, finding ways to authentically reconnect with her deep feminine. She now engages more deeply with her personal aspirations finding clarity of purpose and strength within. “Rooted from Zoya” symbolises her inner strength and is an expression of this inner quest.”
On the dazzling occasion, TMM caught up with the beautiful Gauri Khan to know her thoughts on the new collection from Zoya.
TMM: You have been associated with Zoya for quite some time now. What do you like about the craftsmanship and work?
Gauri Khan: I am a student of art and history, and a creative person, so the craftsmanship of Zoya, the inspired designs and storytelling behind each collection and each piece really appeal to me. I also like that Zoya takes India’s traditional craft and translates it into very modern design language. It’s a way of ensuring India’s rich legacy of craftsmanship stays alive and of preserving dying arts.
TMM: What are your thoughts on the new collection Rooted?
Gauri Khan: It’s a colourful, spirited and versatile collection. It’s inspired by the theme of inner strength and draws on the motifs from the rainforest. These forests have stood tall for millions of years in the face of challenges, and are a great metaphor for the strength needed in today’s challenging times. It’s beautifully designed, and very wearable. You can wear it for family dinners or brunches or cocktails, or even to dress up a casual look.
TMM: Which is your favourite piece from the collection? How would you style it?
Gauri Khan: I love this necklace I’m wearing today. It’s a stunning statement piece. It’s called Light of the Rainforest and reminds you of the rays of light filtering through the dense forest canopy. The pop of colour from the yellow sapphire is an inspired touch. Today I’m styling it formally with this beautiful gown by Gaurav Gupta.
TMM: What is your personal style statement when it comes to jewellery?
Gauri Khan: It depends on the occasion. For everyday wear, I love light pieces like this turquoise and gold bracelet, lariat or pendant that’s delicate and fluid and would go beautifully with even denim. For more formal occasions I would choose something that makes more of a statement like the necklace I’m wearing.
TMM: What are some of the things people should keep in mind while buying diamond jewellery?
Gauri Khan: Of course, you must look at the carat, colour, cut etc. and when it comes to stones, you have to be sure that the quality is good. But in today’s world, I think we all want to know the story behind the product also. For instance, are the diamonds you are buying ethically sourced? Is the company taking care of the karigars that work on these products and so on. That’s why I like Zoya, because it’s from the House of Tata and they are careful about such things.
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