13/10/2026
Some of you may have noticed that we were closed for a few weeks, and that’s because we were in South Asia (North India and Bhutan), one of the jewellery and gemstone capitals of the world!
First, we had the opportunity to visit artisans in Agra who make inlay art. They are the direct descendants of the artisans who worked on the Taj Mahal.
Here are some of the semi precious stones that they use.
Every piece is cut by hand and without measuring. The cutters are so experienced and precise that they can shape the stones perfectly by eye.
A sample that shows you just how precise the cutters are.
A finished piece.
A table which looks quite different depending on the kind of light that is shone on it. These artisans still use the same Makrana (white marble) that was used to construct the Taj Mahal, which is mined in Rajasthan. It has a reputation for very high calcite purity and unusually low porosity and water absorption, which is a big part of why the Taj has weathered so well.
Some inlay details in the Taj Mahal.
Learning about beaded jewellery in rural Bhutan 🇧🇹
Visiting a jewellery shop in Jaipur where artisans still cut the gemstones on site.
This is what they start off with. This is a big chunk of emerald.
Once again, the artisans cut and polish the stones without measuring anything. They are so experienced that they can do it entirely by eye.
Some nearly finished gemstones. You can see how precise the cutters are.
A selection of finished pieces. As you can see they don’t shy away from designs that make a statement! 🇮🇳
Here’s a detail from a sword hilt we saw at a museum, set with polki - flat, uncut diamonds used in Mughal and Rajasthani jewellery. Rather than faceting stones for sparkle, Indian craftsmen polished them flat to preserve their size and natural form. Even to this day, more than 90% of diamonds are cut and polished in India, regardless of their origin.
And finally, some exquisite emerald jewellery in Delhi.
