THE CLASSIC MODERNIST

Hanut Singh

Royalty’s tryst with all things sparkly has always been part sentiment, part statement. In the case of Hanut Singh, it was the perfect amalgam of passion and provenance that put him on the creative side of the drawing board. A scion of the royal family of Kapurthala, Singh, 44, designs sublime jewellery that has Mughal influences, architectural inspirations with interplay of unusual colours. Although his designs have been worn by celebrities such as Diane von Furstenberg, Wendi Deng Murdoch, Beyoncé, and even Madonna, he claims to have had the most fun designing Katy Perry’s engagement ring when she married Russell Brand. Singh characterises his jewellery as “whimsical with a distinctive edge that drips with sheer glamour and ease.” While gold is the metal of choice, his favourite stones keep changing; he is currently obsessed with Paraiba

tourmalines and Herkimer diamonds. Exclusive to the point of being reclusive, he retails only through gallery shows or by appointment in India and at Roseark in Los Angeles and Fred Leighton in New York.