The bubbly and gifted jewellery designer, Mariam Sheikh of Jaipur and Co, talks to us about her love for jewellery and shares her stunning collection of polki, pearl and kundan pieces with us
How/when did you get interested in jewellery?
My grandmother’s jewellery has always fascinated me. Her vault tells stories of travel, leisure and love. I belong to a generation of powerful women who live luxuriously; I love and wear all her pieces to date.
What are your favourite pieces of jewellery?
My all-time favourite piece is my grandmother’s Columbian emerald ring, and later in life, my engagement ring also topped my list of favourites. From my own designs, I love versatile pieces like the Victorian polki studs and the Victorian single-line necklace.
Is there any piece you are emotionally attached to and why?
My engagement ring and wedding band have the most sentimental value for me, I never take them off. Especially when I’m travelling, it always reminds me of my husband.
Share a story with us on how you acquired one of your favourite pieces.
One of my favourite pieces is a Victorian polki necklace designed by Jaipur & Co. It is hand-crafted to perfection and sourced by our artisans in India. It is a bold and minimalistic piece, and thus it is perfect for me.
Is there anything on your radar that you want to get in the future?
There are too many to list here. One of the reasons we developed Jaipur & Co was the growing inaccessibility of jewellery. The general security situation led to many people keeping their precious pieces in bank lockers and jewellery became more of a stress than anything else. I no longer obsess over individual pieces. I think jewellery should be fun and interchangeable with your mood and trends and not something that weighs you down.
Original Post by: The Express Tribune (18th Dec 2016)
