Not just Gold

One of Punjab’s most sought after jewellery designers,Annu Chadha,shifted base from Amritsar to Chandigarh in April,last year. A year later,the designer is celebrating the first anniversary at her store Jewels by Annu,in Taj,Chandigarh. Marking the occasion is a new collection. “I am known for opulent jewellery,but this time I wanted a collection that had something for everyone,” says Chadha. Her celebratory collection for the season ‘Inaaya’,priced Rs 20,000 onwards,boasts of light-coloured precious feel likstones,set in gold,with diamonds. “During summer one doesn’t e wearing heavy pieces,” says the designer,who has put together a varied display,including earrings,cuffs and rings that are discreet in size,but bold in style. “Day wear jewellery should be light,” she adds.

Though most of the designs are contemporary,Chadha has worked with traditional Punjabi patterns and the quintessential baali has been given a funky twist with diamonds and hoop-like designs. The French enameling technique has been used and to bring down the cost,leather has been used in the cuffs and there are invisible settings in diamonds. The summer line has precious stones like coral,turquoise and champagne topaz.

“I like to experiment,” says Chadha,who recently held a show in Mumbai with celebrities like Raveena Tandon and Pooja Batra in attendance .