Celebrating the spirit of the monsoon, Ma Passion, creators of rare gemstone sculptures and couture jewellery, launched the Monsoon Mambo collection - An exclusive set inspired by the invigorating monsoons in India. With colors and designs that reflect the new beginnings that the monsoon signify, this collection has woven the traditional Indian ethos into its design and intricate work.Set in 18K gold, the gemstone necklaces make a unique statement by their design, artistry, and painstaking attention to details.
The collection consists of four individual pieces, each designed by a renowned designer in the field. The pieces are exclusively designed and hand carved by experienced 'karigars.' With the vision of the designers, the expertise of Mr. Dinesh Poddar, MD Ma Passion, in recognising quality stones, and the subtle nuances of the design understood by the 'karigars', the pieces truly reflect an aura of their own.
He states, “Most of the stones in this series have been sourced from Brazilian mines, except one which is from Madagascar in Africa. The necklaces in this series have been designed as dance forms. Each piece of the exquisite design appears to be dancing in tandem with the stones, diamonds and the neck of the wearer. Since Mambo is a Latin American dance with African roots, we decided to call this series Monsoon Mambo.”
Indeed, the four individual pieces of the series have been designed by renowned jewellery designers. With their vast experience and intimate understanding of the stones, these pieces are the reflection of not only the workmanship, but also the very aura and character of each piece, that led it to be moulded and carved the way it was.
Harshad Ajoomed, Designer of the Monsoon Rose, says, “These are not mere stones. They are actually crystals that possess energy and vitality with a life of their own. Each piece has an inept quality to be carved in a certain way. Set in diamond and 18cts gold, the combination is a lot more than just an aesthetic delight, it invigorates one’s soul.”
The designers have used their expertise in the jewellery design, and motivated by their creative license, to create pieces that are not only unique in their design, but also unique in their inspiration. Setting out to work on each piece as an amalgamation of their inspiration, vision, the aura of the stone and their artistic license, each has produced a piece as unique in its existence as are the stones themselves.
Each individual piece took about 3 months to conceptualize and design. Once handed over to the karigars, took 8-9 months to give shape to these stones. All in all, about 450 man-hours was spent to create these exquisite pieces.
For these rare pieces with exquisite designs the prices begin from Rs. 4 lakh onwards depending on the quality of the stone, craftsmanship and intricate design. A brief about each piece in the Monsoon Mambo collection follows:
The Dance of Desire:
Set in 18cts gold, with rose gold polish, the piece radiates the fresh appeal of the Monsoon. The reviving power of the first rains bring to life the peacock stone, carved of out of the African Ruby, the centerpiece radiates an innocent glow, giving it an aura of tradition, mixed with a modern appeal. The intricate cuts in the stone not only enhance its natural colour but also encourage the piece to reflect light in such a way that the radiates the ruby red. Set against the backdrop of crystalline shimmer of diamonds enhances the enthralling beauty of the African Ruby. The stone is sourced from the rich mines of Longido, Tanzania and has been carved by Ashok Kumawat, the karigar from Jaipur. The Dance of Desire is designed by Harshad Ajoomed who has brought out the beauty of the gemstone.
The Languid Cobalt Peacock Dance:
The one of its kind necklace with 6.74 cts rose cut diamonds; accentuate the deep blue color of the Australian Opal. With intricate design surrounding the stone, the subtle shades and textures in the stone are highlighted. The peacock, nature's most beautiful symbol of the monsoon, has been designed to focus on the bird before it spreads its feathered tail to celebrate the monsoon. The Peridote, Tanzanite and Rose De France Amethyst, set among the rose cut diamonds, embedded within 18 cts gold, add to the striking beauty of the peacock's tail. The crystalline shimmer of the rose cut diamonds, surrounding each of these stone give it an almost ethereal quality, as if being watched from a distance, the peacock is preparing to dance to express its ecstasy of the oncoming monsoon.
Radha - Krishna Monsoon Dance of Devotion:
With the monsoon bringing with it the season of love and romance, there is no better way to celebrate it than with the eternal love story of Radha-Krishna. Playing on this theme, the designer, Gautam Banerjee, has invoked the devotional love of the deities through his depiction of them in 50 cts Cetrine stones. Sourced directly from the Maraba Mines, their delicate quality reflects the light through the intricate carvings of the deities, producing an almost spiritual glow within the stone itself. Accentuating the essence of the monsoon and the spirit of heavenly love, 18cts gold stems with 4.70 cts diamond dew drops shelter the lovers from the rain.
The Vines of Abundance
The subtle and delicate craft used in carving the Brazilian Emerald used in this piece is evident in the fine finish of the 82 cts Emerald green grapes. Gautam Banerjee, the master designer behind this piece brings out the subtle nuances of the delicate carving encasing it in a gold wreath studded with diamonds. The piece emanates abundance and the green signifies prosperity. In line with the theme of the Monsoon, the deep green of the emerald signifies the fullness of the fruit, ready to burst with rich colour of the gemstone, intricately interwoven with the gold vines that bind them together.
The Twist of the Aquamarine
The translucent colour of the centerpiece radiates a warm shade of Aquamarine is the work of the celebrated Russian cutter, Yarosky, who, has sourced the stone from Burma and used his aesthetic sense to carve the stone enhancing its natural beauty is enhanced. Gautam Banerjee has designed this piece to be set in 18cts gold and encrusted with 2.44K diamonds. The design curves around the centerpiece in delicate enchanting curves. The Aquamarine stands out for its clear composition, with delicate shades of blue playing with the light reflected off the diamonds surrounding it.
The Monsoon Mambo Collection will be showcased at the Indian Jewelry Show (IIJS) in Mumbai on 6th of August. For more exquisite collections visit the Ma Passion exclusive store in Mumbai at the Grand Hyatt, Santacruz.
