A GLITTERING HERITAGE

WITH ENCHANTING TALES OF 184-CARAT DIAMONDS AND THE PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT OSTRICH PLUME TO MODEL THE NIZAM OF HYDERABAD’S NECKLACE, JEWELLER SHREYANS GANDHI SHOWCASES HIS FAMILY’S ENDURING BUSINESS LEGACY AND ITS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

- JEENA J BILLIMORIA

In the 19th century lived a man named Jehangir Gazdar, renowned for his dealings in rare artifacts. He journeyed around the globe in search of exquisite pieces of art, curating an impressive collection to auction, among which were a rare bronze ibex (a type of wild mountain goat) figure, a bronze incense burner and a bronze bull, dating back thousands of years. Notably, the bronze ibex found its way to the American Art Association] — Anderson Galleries (eventually taken over by Sotheby’s) in New York in 1933.

Jehangir’s sons, Dinshah and Rustom, aspired to his follow in his footsteps. After an introduction from Hyderabad’s Salar Jung family, they received comprehensive goldsmith training at Cartier in Paris, enabling them to establish Gazdar Jewels and Works of Art at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace in 1933.

In the 1970s, Dharmendra Gandhi, the current chairman, began working with Gazdar as a partner. The two shared a strong bond, with Dharmendra considering Gazdar “a father figure, mentor and role model.” In 1990, the Gandhis took over the brand, with Gazdar seeing in his protégé the same passion he had developed. Dharmendra Gandhi passed down his wealth of knowledge and expertise to his son Ravin and grandson Shreyans, who is currently the creative director of Gazdar. “My grandfather taught me that setting gemstones requires a meticulous approach, where the focus is on enhancing the gemstone’s brilliance and minimising the presence of metal,” says Shreyans, who studied in the US and undertook internships in Jaipur and Mumbai to gain a deeper understanding of the trade. Evaluating gemstones under different lighting conditions and achieving perfection in the gold mount were valuable lessons ingrained in him.