One look at any piece from Occasions Fine Jewellery, one is instantly reminded of the royal lifestyle favoured by kings and queens. Copious amounts of uncut diamonds set in a pattern reminiscent of the royal era mixed with high quality coloured stones gives you a glimpse of lives lived in the courts of Maharajas. Sanjana Parikh speaks to Founder Devashish Kamdar where he reveals his eternal love for Indian heirlooms

Belonging to a family of jewellers, his foray into the jewellery line was inevitable. Devashish Kamdar of Occasions Fine Jewellery always had a keen sense of design and an eye for quality. With a legacy spanning generations, Devashish tries to infuse an old world charm in the modern and fast paced life of present times. “Our family company mainly dealt in the B2B markets in India, London and Dubai. Immediately after graduation, I wanted to start a brand for clients to possess exquisite jewels at direct factory pricing. Hence, I began Occasions Fine Jewellery as a bridal benchmark for making every brides dream,” shares Devashish.

Upon completion of his graduate degree from University of Nottigham, London, Devashish returned to India with a dream of creating a fine jewellery brand. Today, Occassions Fine Jewellery has a boutique in London’s prestigious Mayfair Speaking on his unique connection with the city he says, “London has always been close to my heart. Since school days, spending all of my summer breaks in London to getting my graduation degree and learning the ropes of the jewellery industry in the city, there is always an infectious buzz in the air. That’s what keeps me going back to it again and again.”

In India, Occasions Fine Jewellery has its bridal boutiques in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Each product is 100% handmade in their Kolkata unit and crafted with maximum precision and the highest levels of quality control. Whether it is rubies from the mines in Mozambique and Burma; emeralds from Zambia and Colombia; the best quality pearls; certified, flawless diamonds or the most precious metals, each aspect of jewellery making finds perfection at Occassions.

The parent company Su Dev is the jewellery manufacturing design house while to own an heirloom piece, Occassions is the luxury retail front with presence in multiple cities across India. The brand works with artisans to bring India’s rich heritage in bridal jewellery, immaculate craftsmanship and design to the forefront.

Speaking on his eternal source of inspiration he comments, “Every day, every moment and every occasion is always an inspiration. Our jewels mainly posses a rich artisanal value inspired from the rich heritage of varied cultures from parts of India. Our collections are deeply inspired by a variety of Indian elements. They can borrow elements from Naqashi work of the Madurai temples and also the rich Rajasthani heritage, the classic diamond jewellery is always a timeless creation a bride would love to own. The Nizam heritage is also a major inspiration for our jewels.”

Being a heritage brand themselves, Occasions has a soft corner for heirloom pieces that can be passed down through generations. As many Indian brides dream of looking like a queen on their special day, Occassions offers heirloom collections which have been modeled after regal queens and empresses. This is apparent in their collections titled Naqashi, Rajasthani, Nizami, Deccan Queen and Maharani, each piece symbolizing elegance, sophistication and femininity.

Devashish adds, “Brides today prefer jewels which have more of a statement value and high quality of raw material along with intricate craftsmanship. We specialize in creating an entire family trousseau both for the bride and groom and work with both the families simultaneously. We create unforgettable pieces for every occasion like engagement, bethaks, mehendi, sangeet, wedding and reception. We also make sure the groom is well adorned to complement the bride well.”

As we move towards lightweight and a modern take on traditional jewellery, brides too want to do away with heavy chunky pieces and instead look for versatility in their trousseau. “Brides are looking at jewels with more wearability and multi-uses. They prefer their jewellery to be worn often rather than sitting in the bank lockers. Hence, we give a lot of versatility and wearability in the trousseaus we design,” says Devashish.

 In the age of cut throat competition, it is impossible to survive without collaboration. In order to cater to a wider audience, Occassions has partnered with famed fashion designer Gaurav Gupta to create a unique collection of edgy pieces that suit the innovative and avantgarde nature of the designer’s garments.

 “We’ve partnered with Gaurav and created a brand Gaurav Gupta Occasions Fine jewellery which crafts jewels with a completely fresh style and posses a very unique yet edgy statement. We aim at opening these boutiques in various cities in India. The idea is to expand globally and serve the client with jewels of highest quality, design and genuinity respecting the value for their money,” concludes Devashish.