PROFILE
PALLAVI DUDEJA FOLEY
gem of a designer Photo credit: Tanishq
Innovation’s the name of the game and the end pieces are often masterpieces of exquisite design. In this rarified world, Pallavi Dudeja Foley’s first couture collection for Tanishq called Zoya created waves, followed by the designing of the three Ponds Miss India crowns, which established her credentials firmly. Pallavi ‘s work will endure as highend bespoke jewellery is her métier
INDIRA LAUL THERE’S A new wave that is quietly but surely changing the concept of jewellery design. It’s called handcrafted custom jewellery. It pushes the envelope where design is concerned, mixing and matching diamonds, rare rubies, sapphires, emeralds and pearls with precious metals, while consistently striving to improve upon the ways in which the gemstones are cut and set. Innovation’s the name of the game and
the end pieces are often masterpieces of exquisite design which are seen not only as adornments but as investments, to be treasured through generations. Pallavi Dudeja Foley best exemplifies the world of high-end bespoke jewellery, a world of exceptional craftsmanship that is identified by unique artistry and demanding standards. Every piece of jewellery designed by Pallavi bears her exclusive stamp; is set to drape you with its splendour and complement you to perfection. You need to study the intricate details of the piece or its visual in order to appreciate it fully. Take The Odyssey, for instance. This finely detailed and flawless piece of neckwear sports 4908 diamonds in a variety of cuts, shapes, sizes and colours. It uses black diamonds so that the contrast between the two sides of the necklace stands out. By Pallavi’s own admission, each one of her pieces has a story to tell, one that is meaningful and stimulating. And so, The Odyssey, with its setting in 18 karat gold, is an expression of the journey of man and his travails, and how he emerges bright and triumphant, just like the diamond. It was shortlisted amongst 11 national awardwinning entries and was selected for the Diamonds 2004 Vivaha Collection.
Seam, another inspired piece, is a splendid asymmetric pendant that uses exotic baroque pearls set in fine gold mesh. The pearls are held naturally between the mesh and delicate wires and Baguette diamonds are channel set intricately into thin grooves in the wire frame. Seam was motivated by the energy that is released when a fabric tears and the pendant expresses this with its vitality and fluidity of motion. As the name suggests, Frost takes a leaf from Nature and depicts this phenomenon in a uniquely beautiful fashion. In this necklace, the diamonds are set on white gold and are randomly strewn over the pearls to look like frost. This labour-intensive piece took three months to complete, since every unit is different in style and it is all hand-crafted. Kudos to the creator for such minute details as the interspersing of yellow gold at places, which depicts the latent heat present in frost. Pallavi learnt her craft initially at The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, where she specialised in Accessory Design. Thereafter, she added to her repertoire of jewellery expertise from the Domus Academy in Milan, Italy, and GIA (Gemological Institute of America).
Photo credit: Titan Watches
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INSPIRATIONAL DESIGN IS THE ULTIMATE LUXURY