By Priti Salian in Bangalore
"We believe that there is a strong connection between the elements of nature and the Zoya woman," says Delhi-based jewellery designer Sangeeta Dewan. As the creative head of Zoya, the couture jewellery brand of Tanishq, one of the leading jewellery houses in India, Dewan has been unveiling four new collections every year.
The spring collection, Espana, was a colourful Spanish fiesta of jewels, while this year's summer collection, aptly named Fire, portrays different aspects of this element, "from the Sun's fire to the sacred fire around which the bride and bridegroom move to take marital vows. The bonfire that bonds people and even the flame of the candle have been captured in the pieces we designed," continues Dewan.
Take, for instance, the necklace and earrings inspired from the soft flame of a candle, whose silhouette flows down the neck with colours changing from white to yellow to deep orange to red. Or the hasli necklace that depicts the circle of fire (main image), illustrating a flame rising up into the dark night. "The intricate enamelling was undertaken by craftsmen in Rajasthan, who are experts in this work," points out Dewan, who also confesses proudly that this happens to be her favourite Zoya piece so far.
Have you ever noticed sunlight falling on the fresh, dewy leaves of a tree, early in the morning? That's what inspired where one of the necklace and earring parures. The silhouette of the sun is mirrored in a breathtakingly beautiful ring, with a glittering white polki diamond adorning its centre, surrounded by pavé set gems. Gold is used to form the shape of the sun's rays, contrasted with black enamel. A pair of earrings is a burst of flames, with a bright citrine drop engulfed in golden fire.
In another pendant and earring set, Dewan has brought forth the beauty with which fire and ice, two contrasting elements of nature, coexist. These fashionable pieces are embellished with diamonds and brown enamel.
There's no end to the stories that are told in Zoya's jewellery collections, and its customers know that. That's what attracts them to this popular and highly creative brand.