AARTI SONAWALA is the artisan jeweller you didn’t know you needed! She’s the fourth generation in the family’s diamond business, ART N ASH. Its factories cut and polish diamonds and gems, and a design house in Hong Kong creates her pieces, from ruby rings and diamond rings for engagements to personalised gold necklaces and diamond bracelets.
The company’s strength is its price. “From the moment the piece is designed by me until you wear it, it is under my control, hence more affordable,” says Aarti, promising that she can even make our two-carat diamond dream come true, within budget.
ART N ASH has over 100 years in the industry. Its reach and presence in key markets in the world means the best value for money for the buyer. You’re not just buying jewellery here, but making an educated choice in quality and design. And Aarti is generous with her teaching.
Fluent in diamonds and gems
Aarti is a certified gemmologist, diamond grader and jewellery designer. Growing up in Antwerp, Belgium, she studied Business Economics at Vesalius College in Brussels. Summers were spent in Los Angeles at the Gemological Institute of America.
It didn’t stop there. After college, she went to Mumbai, India, to work in the family-owned factory. “I spent one year in each and every department,” she says, “doing everything from sorting diamonds, learning how to make jewellery moulds and setting the diamonds to high quality-control standards.”
Aarti then moved to Houston, Texas, to work at her uncle’s wholesale jewellery business, eventually joining her father in Antwerp where he had his diamond trading company. She has run her own wholesale jewellery business for over 30 years.
Personalised gold necklaces, diamond rings for engagement and more
The Everyday Elegance collection is modern and delicate at the same time, and can take you from day to night. It includes gold necklaces, diamond bracelets, diamond rings and earrings. Aarti’s most popular bespoke pieces include solitaire engagement and wedding rings, and personalised jewellery (perfect for the daughter turning 18).
She says, “Classic designs such as diamond tennis bracelets and eternity bands are definitely evergreen. My Illusion Series is popular, as clients feel they get value for money. The earrings look like a solitaire, but are actually made up of several diamonds put together in a pressure setting so it looks like one diamond from afar.”
Beyond bespoke
The brand takes its bespoke service very personally, with Aarti setting out to explore what her clients’ lifestyles are like, and designing versatile pieces around them. Her designs are based around a style spirit and will last beyond fashion trends.
From new-mum presents to anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day and Christmas, there’s always a reason to make a special memory with a piece of jewellery. Gold necklaces, diamond bracelets or a ruby ring perhaps. Husbands and significant others take note: the lady of the manor already knows what she wants, so it would be best to let her talk to Aarti about it!
These jewellery designs have been delighting customers in Singapore since 2013. You can’t keep a secret this good, and the business continues to grow by word of mouth.
For more information, get in touch at aarti@artnash.sg
This article first appeared in the September 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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