Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas Jewellers needs no introduction. Based out of Jaipur, Yash Agrawal is the third generation of the Birdhichand family, known for being the jeweller to erstwhile royal families of the state of Rajasthan. Agarwal has a reputation as a meticulous designer, who immerses himself in subjects that pique his interest. He is involved in every aspect of the family business, which is a passion project as far as he’s concerned. With a legacy that spans generations, the brand is celebrated for its unwavering dedication to quality and enduring aesthetics. The jewellery from this atelier is known for its timelessness and grace. reflecting from the patrons who endorse its collections. They recently launched their latest collection, which includes motifs from across the country, quintessentially Indian in its make and style. Agarwal’s exquisite jewellery pieces reflect the beauty and essence of Rajasthan, by using vibrant colours and unconventional shapes, that exude a majestic aura. LuxeBook caught up with Yash Agarwal, the creative director of the brand, under whom Birdhichand Ghanshyamdas jewellers has been thriving. INTERVIEW How has Birdhichand innovated in its latest high jewellery collection? Birdhichand is a high-end, classic couture brand. We don’t change our collections very rapidly as these are heirloom pieces. For us the collection is always a journey. What we have done this year is paying more attention to the detailing of our pieces. More than the front, we have paid attention to the back. We have played with bold colours and multiple motifs. Describe your journey as a jeweller. What were the noteworthy moments of this experience? My journey as a jeweller began when I was 10. I was born into a family of jewellers. The discussions on our dinner table, family holidays were around jewellery. Trust me, I don’t have any regrets around it. It was this process that made jewellery into my passion. Throughout the time, I have always grown into my life and really thinking about its art and craft. There are end number of moments which are noteworthy, but some come to me instantly. One of them is when I was awarded the best jewellery designer by GIA (Gemological Institute of America), when I was the only Indian jeweller to work as an intern with Harry Winston and Tiffany’s. What are the challenges being faced by the jewellery industry right now. Any industry itself is a challenge, challenges are not just a roadblock but an opportunity to better yourself. Challenge in the jewellery industry is to always find the right material for the design. Natural resources being scared, and the quality of raw materials depreciating, the availability of those materials are becoming rarer. Has styling become a very important element for any jeweller? Style has always been an important factor for me. I can’t talk about other people but at Birdhichand, one of the most important things, we believe, is that when a particular style becomes the fashion, the stylist moves forward. It is one of the most major factors of our style ethos. What are some trend forecasts for 2024? We aren’t broad believers in trends – we believe what suits you, suits you. When you’re looking to purchase an heirloom piece, the trends can’t really determine your choice. Every personality is different, and every person will have a different perception for each piece of jewellery. I believe in good material and craftsmanship over trends. Tell us about your latest bridal collection. Our latest bridal collection is minimalistic yet bold, classic yet contemporary. We have used more white elements on the surface and given more colours on the bezel and edges. What are your opinions on mixing material in high jewellery? There isn’t a set definition for high jewellery. For me, high jewellery is something which is different, unique and a lot of style value to it. If to create that uniqueness, you have to mix two materials, metals, get two tones, palladium, gold, coloured stones, it is fine. We don’t however believe in mixing materials that are non-precious or synthetic. We don’t believe in the philosophy of making high jewellery with non-precious materials. Are Indian designs getting more popular on a global platform? Indian motifs and designs were always popular on a global platform. What is getting more attention is Indian style. How India has been portrayed is not just the inspiration of motifs. Globally, we are getting more attention in this aspect. People want to be styled like us. How has Indian jewellery been a stronghold of the Indian luxury market. One thing you keep a hold of, you don’t want to depart from, as far as Indian families are concerned, is Indian jewellery. It is an heirloom that you pass on to your daughters and daughters-in-law and so on. It is an utmost luxury product which is generational wealth. Indian jewellery is what makes up the majority of India’s luxury market. BY PAYEL MAJUMDAR UPRETI Yash Agarwal: ‘I was born into jewellery and grew up thinking about its craft’ 34|LUXEBOOK |MAR/APR 2024 MAR/APR 2024 |LUXEBOOK|35
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