Jewellery Designer Hanut Singh's Precious Double Trouble

I HAVE BEEN FELLED, INTOXICATED, RENDERED speechless, hypnotised, mesmerised—and completely in love with Golconda diamonds. Addictively so. I can’t even recall when it began, because in my mind’s eye it feels like forever.

I now understand why the imperial courts of the great monarchies—from Russia to Europe, India to Persia—were entranced by the brilliant limpidity of diamonds from the Golconda mines. Their court jewels, historically gobsmacking, were encrusted with these hypnotic stones in every conceivable shape, size, cut and carat.

Hanut Singh

When I inherited a pair of these rare beauties, ecstatic would be an understatement. After all, the mines closed in the 18th century—and that was the end of it! Knowing the significance of these stones, I was determined to enjoy them daily. And when my astrological chart told me I was meant to wear diamonds, I ululated with joy.

So I created my ring, which I call Double Trouble. Two Golconda diamonds facing each other at an angle, mirroring and reflecting their hypnotic light. I set them in a solid, weighty, undeniably sexy gold mount, circling them with a lick of French enamel—for some extra jou jou.

Double Trouble

This is my prized possession. I wear it in deep gratitude, as a custodian of something that has always entranced me—and always will.