Five Tastemakers Reveal Their Most Meaningful Jewellery Pieces

Jewellery has always been more than an adornment. It is memory made tangible, a silent witness to the chapters we write in our own lives. We buy it for others to mark their joys and triumphs, but why not for ourselves? In a world that often demands we wait for others to recognize our milestones and moments, there is definite power in gifting yourself something beautiful to celebrate a much-deserved win, to mark the day you finally choose yourself, to remind you of a loved one, or just a sparkle that has haunted your bejewelled dreams for years.

These pieces become markers on the map of our personal journeys – milestones of resilience or moments of self-love, they are a reminder that we are the authors of our own stories. They whisper, every time they catch the light, “You did this. You deserved this. You are enough.”

With a jewellery collection that’s spread across a wide spectrum of styles – from vintage to homegrown, from everyday elegance to sparkling statement, each piece that I have evokes a good story or a weird memory to share, to celebrate, and to remember. Amidst the hundreds of jewels, there’s the one that celebrates and encapsulates my style and life eccentricities alike, i.e., the simple yet striking custom emerald ring from Zayn by Sunena. Yes, emerald is one of the most popular gemstones across the globe and even holds a valuable place in jewellery history. But for me, it’s simply my spirit gemstone!

To be honest, this isn’t indulgence. Its intention. It’s your private archive of milestones and memories, held in metal and stone. Because the most important relationship you’ll ever have is the one with yourself – and sometimes, it deserves a little sparkle and dazzle. And as an ode to the jewellery that marks the moments only you know, we decided to reach out to some of the most vivacious jewellery connoisseurs to discover their most special bejewelled pieces and to know what’s next on their sparkling list. Discover their uniquely inspired jewels below.

Snigdha Palchoudhuri, Brand Strategy & Creative Consultant

“My teenage years were largely spent rowing for my school, and then my state. When prize money from competitions became my first real earnings, I was eager to spend it immediately. My father suggested saving all my prize money and buying jewellery, as that’ll stay with me forever.
At our family jeweller, I chose these gold balis – traditional and timeless, and mine to keep. Decades later, they remain my most cherished pieces not only because of their value, but because of what they hold, i.e. the discipline of early morning training, my sister’s presence in the boat, and the joy of achievement.
Some milestones deserve to be honoured, worn, and remembered. These earrings are more than an adornment; they’re a keeper of my memories that I will treasure forever!

I would love to gift myself the designs by Dezso by Sara Beltrán next. Sara transforms the ocean’s raw beauty into some of the most beautiful wearable art. With hand-carved gemstones from Jaipur, it feels familiar and closer to home.”

Jagvir Matharoo, Joint Creative Director – The Flame Store

“The one piece that I gifted myself in the last few years has been this beautiful vintage silver necklace I found in a dusty old shop in Chandni Chowk. It instantly brought memories of a necklace my mother used to own. She had just passed away, and seeing this piece instantly seemed like a sign from her.
I absolutely love and adore it, and it brings a smile every time I wear it.

I have been collecting jewellery from the French designer, Dorothee Sausset, over the years. My current obsession is Bo Emily earrings – and hopefully, they will soon be in my possession.”

Dilpreet Kaur Dua, Brand Strategist

“I have always been fascinated by jhumkas and have acquired quite a few over the years. From my mother-in-law’s Punjabi Lotans to my mother’s gold filigree jhumkas and my wedding jhumkas, each marks a special moment, story, or a loved one, making each unique in design and memory.

My heart is always dreaming of earrings – different textures, metals, and stones. The distinctive styles enchant me with their design & creativity. I’m currently obsessing over Studio Metallurgy Wisteria Earrings for their structural elegance. Look forward to adding them to the collection soon!”

Priyanka Prasad, Co-Founder – Curioser & High Heel Confidential

“I’m a very intentional shopper; I rarely ever buy even marginally high-ticket items on an impulse. That said, I have two purchases of mine in the recent past that have been special (to me)! The Celine crystal embellished chain-link necklace (Phoebe Philo Era) was one of those “that got away” pieces and has always haunted me. After years of hunting various resellers and vintage stores, Gab Waller (and team) helped track one down for me in pristine, never-worn condition right in time for my 40th birthday. It was like it was meant to be!
Then, I’m rarely ever influenced by what I see on celebrities, but I remember this one Project Runway episode where Nina Garcia had worn these crystal Yves Saint Laurent earrings – I have never wanted something more in my life! It was love at first sight! Again, this was one of those hunts that I went on, and finally scored a pair on sale! It was crystal clear that my 40s were off to a sparkling start!
Both of these pieces are loud and obnoxious but also unapologetically beautiful and powerful – and this is what drew me to them!

If money were no object, these emerald earrings by Hemmerle would be on my list for the year! A girl can dream! In all seriousness, though, this year has been super stressful; the hits kept coming. To close this year out, if I could, I would gift myself a vintage watch from the 70s or 80s that features a lapis lazuli face – as a reminder to stay calm and that there’s nothing I couldn’t weather. I love the stone’s spiritual significance! Besides, I wear a watch every day, and to me it’s an important piece of jewellery!”

Spardha Malik, Brand Consultant & Fashion Stylist

“The most special piece of jewellery that I have gifted myself until now was, in fact, this year. I got myself a really beautiful sapphire ring, the one I had been dreaming about since I was 12 years old.
When I was 12, I had a ring that somebody gifted to me, or I probably picked it up from some place – it had a blue, sapphire-like stone, and I just fell in love with it! And for a while I had been on a hunt to find that blue that was just now living in memory, since I now longer have that ring. So, I reached out to my friend Arushi Parekh, who is the jeweller behind MELT, and we started looking for the perfect shade of blue because I didn’t want a dark, deep blue or a light blue; rather, I wanted that perfect mid-tone blue which illuminates really beautifully on my hand. And after searching for 5-6 months, we finally zeroed in on a stone that I like – it’s a 7-carat sapphire in an oval cut. Then we designed the ring in the most simplistic and beautiful way, where the stone just shimmers, and there’s no other viable construction around it.
So, that’s my most special piece of jewellery because it just is the truest version of me; I see myself in that stone, and the way it sparkles, it brings me so much joy! And it has brought me joy since I was 12 and sort of had been dreaming of having something like this.”