Neha Dani: New Age Impressionist

A recent entrant into the field of jewellery making, Delhi-based NEHA DANI is already being counted in the stratosphere of rare jewellery artists. Although her detailed renditions in customcoloured rhodium-plated 18-karat gold set with a multitude of gemstones draw heavily from nature, the one-off, sculptural pieces resemble artworks of impressionist painters.

- Shanoo Bijlani

Balancing her act by infusing oodles of femininity, her works of art articulate a bold and emotional narrative encapsulated in dynamic forms. She breathes life into her pieces by adding colourless and natural fancy colour diamonds that beautify and reinforce the design element. The multiple layered pieces evoking floral petals, twigs or leaves are captured in unexpected meandering twists and turns.

Each piece presents a challenge to make, but that is what Neha revels in – to push the creative boundaries in order to seek artistic nirvana.

You are a Fellow of the Gemological association of England and a Gemological Institute of America-certified graduate gemmologist. When did you veer towards making jewellery?

I started my career as a gemmologist in an international lab which was just starting out in India. I soon moved to designing highend jewellery and being a buying consultant for high quality large-size diamonds, i was usually dealing in very expensive and big diamonds. I used to spend a lot of time at the jewellery manufacturing workshops with bench craftsmen and setters. Observing the whole process of fabrication got me more and more inclined to creating unique pieces of jewellery.

Where did you study the art of jewellery making?

I did my jewellery diploma in designing and wax carving techniques from GIA in the united states, but as mentioned earlier, i learnt the art and techniques of jewellery making by observing craftsmen. So a lot of it is also just experimenting with designs and wax models.

When did you launch your own line and where do you retail? Do you sell in India too?