And there is, Suman says, no better match for the celebration than Cartier. “I don’t know of another jewellery brand that holds an event like this, and it is amazing,” she says. “It’s really appreciated. And of course the craftsmanship, the designs, the history of the brand: it’s iconic. I mean, it is the king of jewellers: it’s made creations for all the royal families you can possibly think of, including the Indian dynasties.”
Cartier’s legacy has long been intertwined with India, ever since Jacques Cartier – one of the three founding Cartier brothers – first visited the country in 1911. Drawn to the unique designs, the vibrant colours and the immense quality of the stones he found there, he set forth to present a vivacious style that would change the jewellery landscape forever. The historic Cartier boutique on New Bond Street is filled with incredible designs from throughout its illustrious history. This year Cartier held a special Diwali display in the boutique, a hallowed place of white-gloved attendants and archivists eager to share their encyclopaedic knowledge of the stories behind each creation. Among these treasures lies the Tutti Frutti jewellery, among the most iconic designs that the Maison has ever made. These designs combine carved gemstones in vivid hues of red, green and blue. A particular highlight is the exquisite Tutti Frutti bracelet from the 1920s, an intricate platinum branch adorned with gemstones carved into botanical shapes and delicate floral motifs studded with diamonds.
Other creations from Cartier’s collections, including the Cartier Le Voyage Recommencé High Jewellery set that Suman chooses for her Diwali outfit, also draw inspiration from Indian design. The necklace – a jaw-dropping combination of white gold, brilliant-cut diamonds, amazonite and cushion-shaped, deep purplish-pink rubellites arranged in geometric motifs – presents an unprecedented interpretation of the Maison’s beloved red-green contrast, which adds a beautiful flash of colour to her all-white ensemble. The platinum ring, too, is an eye-catching creation, the oval- and pear-shaped spinels reflecting the shine of Suman’s sequins.
