East Meets West

Best reserved for grand and lavish occasions and events, traditional Indian jewels are typically heavy gold pieces encrusted with rose-cut diamonds, emeralds, rubies and intricate enamel-work. But New Delhi-based jewelry designer Hanut Singh puts a new twist on a old art form with his wearable and refined contemporary baubles, which are strongly inspired by India's history of magnificently ornate jewels.

Singh's eye for all things sparkly was honed in part by studying the unique pieces in his family's private jewelry collection. His grandparents, the great Maharaj Kumar and Princess of Kapurthala, frequently traveled to Paris with traditional Indian jewels and loose precious stones. There, they would have them reset by legendary Parisian jewelers Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, returning home with trendy, eclectic creations that would eventually become one-of-a-kind family heirlooms—and an inspiration for their grandson.

Singh's signature collection beautifully reflects this melding of Eastern exoticism and Western elegance, as seen in a pair of optical wheel earrings crafted from diamonds, pearls, black onyx and chalcedony that find a balance between imperial opulence and Art Deco accents. You don't need to be a princess to pull off these divine everyday pieces, nor to afford them, fortunately—most of Singh's creations are under $3,000.

www.hanutsingh.com

—Jessica Dang