Aarti Sonawala of ART N ASH has transformed many a vision into stunning jewellery. Here, the Singapore jeweller takes us behind three favourite pieces she has created. From symbolic bespoke jewellery to gorgeous diamond rings in Singapore – and the intimate stories they hold.
“As a Singapore jewellery designer, I take immense pleasure in creating one-of-a-kind pieces for my clients,” says Aarti. Hailing from a family of jewellers, her own bespoke creations have long been loved by Singapore’s jewellery aficionados. “Whether it’s an engagement ring, a push present or a milestone birthday, I want to make their dream piece of jewellery a reality. The joy that my clients experience when they open the jewellery box and see their beautifully crafted piece is truly the best part of the whole process.”
#1 Sapphire Dreams Do Come True – a magnificent diamond ring in Singapore for a momentous occasion
“My client had been dreaming of a sapphire and diamond ring for years. When it was time to choose a push present, she came to me with a photo of the exact ring she wanted. We immediately set to work to make her dream a reality. Finding the perfect deep blue, oval-shaped, certified sapphire was a meticulous process. We searched extensively to ensure it fit her preferences and budget. The real challenge was achieving a delicate balance between adding a stunning diamond halo around the sapphire while also making sure it was proportionate to the centre stone and within budget. Once we had the details, we drew a CAD and sent it to the client for approval. A few weeks later, her dream ring was ready. This sapphire and diamond ring was special as it was a symbol of a momentous occasion in her life. We took great care and attention to detail to ensure it was exactly what she wanted.”
#2 Somewhere Over the Rainbow – beautiful bespoke jewellery to be treasured forever
“Designing for milestone birthdays is always exciting for me, especially when clients come to me with unique requests. In this case, my client wanted a rainbow-coloured stone bracelet to mark her 50th birthday. She was inspired by the colours of the rainbow and wanted something fun yet meaningful. Each colour of this piece of bespoke jewellery represented a different phase of her life. That makes it a truly personal piece. I carefully selected each stone and crafted a beautiful bracelet that captured the essence of her journey so far. It was a joy to see her face light up when she saw it. I knew it was a piece that she would treasure forever.”
#3 From Bali with Love – a one-of-a-kind engagement diamond ring in Singapore
“It was a sunny day in Bali when my phone rang. On the other end of the line was a man from Scotland. He was looking for an engagement diamond ring for his girlfriend. Despite being on holiday, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to help him find the perfect diamond. I gave him a ‘diamonds 101’ lesson, explaining the different types of diamonds, their cut, colour, carat and clarity. As he was an engineer, we delved deeply into the technical details of diamond angles and shapes. I offered him a few different options within his budget. After selecting the perfect diamond, he wanted to design the diamond ring himself. We spent a few more days perfecting the design, working together to ensure every detail was just right before he placed the order. The result was a stunning engagement diamond ring that perfectly represented their love story. It was a pleasure to have been a part of the process.”
The notion of creating your bespoke jewellery or diamond ring in Singapore can feel intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be! Here, Aarti walks us through the five-step consultation process.
#1 I am always happy to educate my clients about every aspect of their journey, so they don’t need to know anything before they come to me. If I’m dealing with a woman, she tends to have a clear idea of what she wants. Meanwhile, a man proposing for the first time may need a bit more guidance.
#2 The consultation begins with an initial phone call where we discuss basic options. We then meet in person to discuss the occasion and the required time frame – customisation can take anywhere from four to 12 weeks – along with budget, size, shape and design of the jewellery piece. We also discuss the type of gold, carat, colour and whether the client prefers diamonds or coloured stones or both.
#3 Once the client has a clear idea of what they want, I offer them a few options to choose from. We then use CAD (computer-aided design) to draw the designs and show them what the piece would look like. I have samples to help clients choose the carat weight and cut.
#4 If the client isn’t satisfied with the initial proposals, we continue to work with them to refine the design until we find the perfect option. Once the design is finalised, I place the order and we begin production, with our skilled master craftsmen and women applying an immense amount of attention to detail to create a truly unique piece.
#5 The production process typically takes around three to four weeks, depending on the intricacy of the design. Once the diamond ring or bespoke jewellery piece is completed, we deliver it to the client with care and attention to ensure it arrives in pristine condition.
Email aarti@artnash.sg to discuss your jewellery ideas.
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This article first appeared in the October 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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