Jewelry by design: jewelry in India is becoming more diverse and sophisticated, thanks to a growing appreciation for designer jewelry--both from the export industry and the emerging consumer market.

Modern Jeweler, September, 2006

Jewelry design, once a family skill passed down through generations by India's artisans, has today become the prerogative of widely educated and trained professionals, a skill honed to perfection through rigorous application of scientific methods and imaginative flair.

The new age Indian designer has a new approach to design. Himani Mantri, who teaches the fashion and lifestyle accessory course at India's National Institute of Fashion Technology, believes that design cannot be viewed in isolation. "It integrates many aspects, tangible and intangible," she says. "From purpose, materials, technique, production, user, economics, to aesthetics, values, perception, and time; a designer cannot proceed without considering all the aspects involved in turning a concept...