MOONSTONE MAGIC

Neha Dani’s rendezvous with moonstones have evoked some of her most iconic and original pieces. Adding to her much-admired Glacier collection, she has spent hours of creative contemplation to design the spectacular showstopper – the Tazlina Moonstone Necklace.

As with every unique creation of Neha Dani, the Moonstone Necklace has walked the storyline of imaginative quest and intense, expert craftsmanship. The journey started with an idea of a necklace that would mesmerize, like the monumental sculptural ice-forms of Alaska. The most magnificent stones were required to translate the sublime form of glaciers into ethereal jewelry, bringing Neha’s sketches to life. create a necklace that would bring the icy blue sheen and glaciers alive on the wearer, that would sparkle and shine the way frozen water does, in moonlight and in sunshine. The final configuration of the majestic stones satisfied the artist’s vision – the stones cascading down like blocks of polar ice, catching light that was sensuous and dramatic.

Neha sourced the highest quality of moonstones from Jaipur, each piece unblemished and reflecting the opulence of its inner light. She selected the finest sample of moonstones, perfect in sheen and colour, which were sliced in shapes unique to her specifications.

The next step in the creation of the necklace was the casting in silver, in the exact same shape as the wax frames. This stage was important to experiment, as Neha figured out the engineering of the entire piece; how each stone would get attached to the next, how the shape would hold, how the entire piece would be clasped on the neck of the wearer, how it would sit on the neck. Each of these and more questions had to be answered to ensure that the final piece is a perfect embodiment of Neha’s design as she had envisioned it. No compromise would be possible on the practical aspects of craftsmanship and technique. Using the silver framework, Neha answered each of her questions with meticulous attention.

Once the final shape of the necklace was determined, the cast, molds and stones were sent to her trusted workshop. Under Neha’s supervision and guidance, the final titanium structure was manufactured. With expert hands, each of the moonstones were placed within these frames. These were further glamorized with intricate diamonds, placed carefully in locations determined by Neha at the stage of wax carving. Eventually, the final form of the majestic necklace was manifest.

Now in resplendent glory, the Moonstone Necklace is the metamorphosis of a dream into a perfect piece of craftsmanship. Neha Dani’s design acumen traversed the path of an abstract idea to a flawlessly engineered piece of stunning jewellery. In its final form, the necklace brings alive the translucent shimmer of glacial ice, as it sometimes melts and freezes again, the Moonstones and Diamonds in their Titanium cradle crystallizing the magic of Nature in a singular piece of regalia.

“To me, the Moonstone Necklace is not just a jewel. It’s the embodiment of the emotions I felt when I experienced the grandeur and beauty of Nature. This magnificent necklace is a storyteller of my self-evolution as an artist.” says Neha Dani.

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