THE KING OF JEWELS

Siddharth Kasliwal, the ninth-generation owner of The Gem Palace, grew up watching uncut emeralds, rubies, and diamonds turn into cuffs, rings, and necklaces. The scion talks about what drives him to sustain his family’s 200-year-old legacy while also whittling it for a changing world.

The Kasliwals were stone cutters and enamellers who first came to Jaipur in 1728 at the invitation of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, who was building his fortified capital. Soon, the city began to metamorphose into a hub of art, culture, and trade; the Kasliwals shifted base from Agra to Jaipur and were appointed as the crown jewellers of the king. In 1852, the family established The Gem Palace

(gempalace.com). The jewellery brand was popularised among Westerners in the 1990s by Munnu Kasliwal, father of the current owner Siddharth. More than

200 years after its inception, the brand continues to instil wonder in its patrons.

Ninth-generation owner Siddharth Kasliwal has huge shoes to fill. Staying relevant is one of the biggest challenges.

“It is not just about living up to the name and continuing the legacy,” says the 32-year-old scion, who took over as the creative head of The Gem Palace after the death of his father in 2012. “You need to adapt to the fast-changing business environment. We still craft our pieces by hand, using centuries-old techniques, while everybody is getting into mass production. That is what sets it apart,” he adds. The institution, which houses some magnificent jewels from the Mughal era, has created heirlooms for kings and presidents around the world, and dazzled stars such as Mick Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, and the late Princess Diana.

Kasliwal has launched stores in Mumbai and RAAS Jodhpur, and has exhibitions lined up in a few national museums. But did he always want to helm a 200-year-old business? “I had always been a fan of history and travel. I loved visiting museums and learning about civilisations,” he says. “I was 17 when I got the chance to work with dad at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (metmuseum.org). I had access to its gallery, and that piqued my interest in the business. I realised this field could feed my interest in history and travel.” Along with restaurateur Abhishek Honawar, Kasliwal also runs 28 Kothi

(28kothi.com), a modern boutique hotel in Rajasthan that is famous for hosting artists, designers, and writers.

Meanwhile, The Gem Palace did take a hit in international sales due to the pandemic but is seeing a lot of interest from Indian brides. “The kundan meena sets are famous. With the pandemic, brides prefer to wear one jewellery set instead of four, and they want that piece to be from us,” he says. “I have had brides tell me that their grandmothers were ‘Gem Palace brides’. It is a matter of trust and loyalty.” And that, for Kasliwal, trumps everything else.

Inspirational destinations: The Botanical Gardens of Mexico and the architecture of Samarkand, Uzbekistan Bucket-list destinations: The Galápagos Islands, Tibet, and Mongolia Favourite gem: Spinel