One of our most exciting acquisitions for spring comes from the royal intricacy of Jaipur: Munnu The Gem Palace. Established in 1852, this exquisite studio has stood as one of India’s most iconic jewelry houses for almost 200 years. Referred to as a “museum atelier,” their work has been featured in exhibitions at the Met and Neue Galerie in New York as well as discerning boutiques and private collections. Legends of all stripes have collected their work, including Princess Diana, Jackie Kennedy, Mick Jagger and more.
Passed by word of mouth between jewelry connoisseurs for decades, The Gem Palace is a studio like no other. This ninth-generation family business is helmed by the Kasliwal family, rumoured to have been started by an ancestor who sold gems to the Mughal courts in the 17th century. Described as a “unique family of aesthetes,” the Kasliwals are skilled jewelers and gem cutters who have passed on extraordinary talent and taste from generation to generation. They are utterly devoted to the heritage of Indian artistry in their work, favoring 22K gold, intricate filigree and polished enamel details.
Jaipur, India
The most current iteration of The Gem Palace flourished under Munnu Kaliswal–the Munnu for whom the studio is now named. Growing up in Jaipur, Munnu’s affinity for the earth’s rarest minerals was fostered from a young age. As they toddled around their father’s workshop, Munnu and his brother, Sanjay, were often given sacks of semi-precious stones to play with as if they were marbles.
As he grew, Munnu displayed the same natural affinity for gemstones and craft as his forebears, creating some of the most striking and memorable designs in the studio’s history. While Munnu drew upon geomorphic modernism and Victorian complexity, a hallmark of his style is the opulence of the Mughal era.
Today, the brand is helmed by the next generation of Kaliswals, including Munnu’s sons Siddarth and Samarth. Having worked alongside his father in the studio, Siddarth, in particular, has been hailed for his creative vision and intuitive approach to design.
Munnu The Gem Palace, Earrings and Pendant
The Gem Palace’s jewelry designs are intricate and undeniably gemmy. They skimp on no part of the process. Rather than default to modern convenience, the family opts for the same intensive hand-carving and setting, painting, cutting and enameling practiced by the artisans that came before them.
They painstakingly source their stones from reputable mines and dealers all over the world. But above all, their most important ingredient is attention. From concept to creation, a single piece can often take years to realize.
Jaipur, India
The pieces we have brought into Santa Fe Dry Goods come largely from The Gem Palace’s Universal collection–designs that celebrate simple, natural beauty with flowing, linear designs. Among the organic gold twists of the offering, find a special bracelet and pendant chosen from their Indorussian collection, designs intended to evoke a blend of victorian and imperial jewelry standards. These pieces stand out not only for the brilliance of their stones (the bracelet alone has nearly 100 diamonds studding its exterior,) but the complex filigree of their designs.
“People shouldn’t hide their jewels away in vaults or save them for special occasions. Gems only come alive in the light.”
