This year, spring racing fashion is not about the frocks, or even the fascinators, but more what eye catching jewels race-goers will be wearing trackside. Deepali Sawlani, founder of Garden of Diamonds, said women are looking for stand out, bespoke pieces that will dazzle during the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival, but can also be worn for life.
“There is no doubt the who’s who of Australia want their jewellery to be the accessory that sets them apart from the crowd this year,” she said.
The wellknown Dubai designer and GIA qualified gemmologist moved to Melbourne in 2011. She brought with her a handmade exclusive range of traditional beaded necklaces, carved gemstone earrings, special designer rings and signature pieces.
“Trends in Melbourne – and globally – are moving away from traditional white diamonds, and more towards a demand for coloured diamonds such as argyle pink, rare blue, type II A white, natural coloured and even green diamonds,” Ms Sawlani said.
When choosing a diamond or gemstone, Ms Sawlani educates her clients on how to make exclusive picks to suit any budget, personality, wardrobe or event. “After all, you don’t need to spend a million dollars to feel like it,” she said.
“When it comes to high end, fashion-stopping pieces it’s about creating jewellery that celebrates the natural beauty and innate allure of each gem, instead of pigeonholing a beautiful stone into a pre-existing design.”
So, what makes Ms Sawlani’s work globally exclusive? Truly bespoke and unique handmade pieces by a skilled craftsperson are hard to replicate.
“The colours of my London Blue Topaz set, for example, and the delicate carving of the gemstones make them limited editions.”
Ms Sawlani’s love for jewellery design, gemmology and diamond dealing took hold in 2003 when she underwent a major career change to pursue her passion. The once corporate financial analyst left her job co-managing $7 billion for Dell Computers in Texas, USA, to answer her true calling of designing these creative jewels.
The move came after she was fleeced when buying a solitaire diamond in Mumbai and on the return flight to America happened to be sitting next to a Hong Kong-based jeweller.
“We got talking and she told me I was a jeweller at heart, and encouraged me to study diamonds further at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).”
And, that’s just what she did. Graduating with a GIA gemmologist diploma in 2003, two years later, Ms Sawlani launched her own private label Simply Rocks – Contemporary Jewels (simplyrocksjewels.com). And, she’s never looked back.
www.simplyrocksjewels.com
www.gardenofdiamonds.com.au