Looking for a Silver Lining

The art auction house Saffronart hopes that downturn or not,there will always be a market for fine jewels.

The art auction house Saffronart hopes that downturn or not,there will always be a market for fine jewels. With its spring online auction of fine jewels coming up on April 15 and 16,president and co-founder Minal Vazirani has reasons to be insanely optimistic. If a piece has an important history or provenance,its simply priceless, he says.

Those are brave words in a world staring at the R-word,but Vazirani has shrewdly taken into account the financial reality. This time they are auctioning slightly low-end pieces,compared with their October auction. The market is slightly depressed. That is partly why we have items at different price points, he says. Were working towards a format where well have biannual jewellery auctions with opulent pieces being sold in October and slightly lower-end pieces sold in April. With this,we hope to woo seasoned collectors as well as first-timers. The jewellery up for auction includes a magnificent diamond-and-emerald necklace with a 12-carat Colombian diamond pendant (left,in the picture).

Another piece is a five-strand pearl necklace with 801 gently graduated natural pearls.

Saffronart is expecting a good response to the auction. People are increasingly looking at jewellery as works of art, says Vazirani,Besides,our October auction saw many bidders and this,mind you,was just days after the global financial crash began.

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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