FOR VIHARI

After Taking A Back Seat At Work For Four Years To Focus On Her Kids, Vihari Poddar Tells Annabel Tan She Is Bringing A Renewed Vim And Vigour Into Her First Baby – Her Jewellery Line

The first piece of jewellery Vihari Poddar ever designed and sold was an engagement ring for her English teacher, Ms Ann Mary. The then15-year-old had noticed her teacher browsing rings online and offered to create something bespoke for her. When Ms Ann Mary agreed, Vihari was thrilled. “I felt awesome when she decided to go ahead with me and support me,” she recalls. “It was the best feeling in the world at that time to have convinced her to wear a ring I designed specially for her.”

Receiving that vote of confidence as a teenager marked the start of what has become Vihari’s vocation – designing beautiful, timeless jewellery. Now, almost 18 years later, she is the managing director and designer of her eponymous jewellery label, Vihari Jewels. She started the company out of a pure, unabashed love for quality stones and gorgeous jewels, which came with being born into a lineage of gem traders.

A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

Growing up, Vihari was always enamoured with diamonds and knew early on that she wanted to join the industry. She often travelled to trade shows with her father Rajesh Sheth, current chairman of House of Gems, and spent her summer breaks at his office. “I would help him count diamonds, weigh them, sort them into their different boxes and check his inventory,” she recounts fondly. “It was amazing to be able to play with diamonds – they are a girl’s best friend after all!”