Dazzling Dreams
Dazzling Dreams
Director of legacy brand Shobha Shringar Jewellers, Sujay Choksey chalks out the A-Z of putting together the perfect bridal jewellery. Poorvi Singhal has the details.
Choosing the right bridal jewellery can be quite a challenging task, now more than ever. There are trends to be considered, versatility to keep in mind, investment value to check and a bride’s personal style to match with, all while ensuring these adornments can be passed on to the coming generations. And that is precisely what 40-year-old legacy jewellery brand Shobha Shringar specialises in: creating pieces of jewellery that tick all these boxes. And then some.
Shobha Shringar Jewellers was founded by Shobhana Choksey in 1983, and carried forward by her son and daughter-in-law Snehal and Nisha Choksey. At the helm now is the couple’s son, Sujay Choksey, who considers jewellery to be a form of self-expression, and believes that every bride should take her time to find the right pieces for her big day. He talks trends, traditions and trousseau jewels with Bridal Asia.
BRIDAL ASIA (BA): HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST BRIDES START PICKING OUT THEIR WEDDING JEWELLERY?
SUJAY CHOKSEY (SC): “First things first—put in the time to understand your personal style. You shouldn’t just select the same jewellery your friend wore or something you saw on social media. That said, there are some signature pieces that are timeless such as gemstone chokers and cuff earrings perfectly suited to reception and cocktail looks, or pastel stone necklaces for daytime celebrations like the haldi or mehendi. Our new Art Deco line has become a go-to for the sangeet and other pre-wedding celebrations. As for the pheras, nothing beats the impactful simplicity of gold and jadau jewellery.
BA: WHAT ARE THE KEY PIECES A BRIDE SHOULD INVEST IN?
SC: A string of good quality emeralds set against natural diamonds will always be elegant and versatile. A heavy classic gold set in a traditional design is an investment piece you’ll keep returning to for weddings and festivities in the family. Something we’re really hot on right now is the evergreen jadau jewellery but in pastel colours—making it contemporary and classic in equal parts. Most of our jewellery is detachable and can be split into two or three wearable pieces, ensuring versatility with style.
BA: HOW CAN BRIDES STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN TRENDS AND CLASSIC INVESTMENT PIECES?
SC: Since jewellery has high investment value, each piece should be able to stand the test of time, no matter how quirky or classic. While there’s no formula to striking the perfect balance, I’d say don’t fall for any trends blindly. Have conviction in your choices, and pick pieces that you can use time and again. For instance, we have a whole line of evergreen styles inspired by British and French royalty in natural coloured stones like emeralds, rubies, sapphires, tanzanites and morganites paired with pearls, rose-cut diamonds and even double cut diamonds. They were popular 150-odd years ago, and are having a moment again. I can vouch for their popularity even in the years to come.
BA: LAYERING IS A BIG PART OF BRIDAL JEWELLERY. BUT IT CAN BE TRICKY TOO. HOW CAN ONE GET IT RIGHT?
SC: Layered jewels are a great way to look regal and dress up a simple ensemble. Start strong with a choker that has a unique design element. A word of caution: it should not be too overpowering. Layer it with a rani haar, a string of coloured gemstones or a couple of sleek necklaces. But there has to be synergy and a common design language between each layer, otherwise it can end up looking quite tacky.