Pavit Gujral

Being brought up in a country immeasurably wealthy in culture and craftsmanship has impacted my tendency toward design. From an exceptionally young age, I realised that I would like to be in the design industry, particularly shoes. However, my affection for gemstones drove me towards jewelry and I proceeded to seek my Graduate Gemology degree at the eminent Gemological Institute of America, New York. I have an amazing bond and love for nature and animals, and they have significantly impacted my designs. As an individual, I am drawn to things that are bold and unique, and similar qualities are visible in my designs.

I am the CEO and Chief Designer of my company, 'Pavit Gujral Designs' based in Dubai Design District, Dubai UAE. The studio is based on the concept of providing customers with a bespoke and unique high jewelry experience by appointment.

Design for me is an expression of emotions and a means of telling stories. It involves the careful and deliberate arrangement of elements, often guided by aesthetic and functional considerations. Overall, design is a broad and multifaceted discipline that combines artistic vision to create pieces that are unique, aesthetically pleasing, and meaningful. Your design style should always represent who you are.

My favourite kind of design is when I can bring nature to life with unique colour combinations and finesse.

In jewelry design, several factors contribute to what is considered a "good" design. I follow five elements of design myself, which help me curate bold and bespoke pieces. First, all my designs are inspired by the beauty and bounty of nature, second, what appeals to me is the beauty in randomness of shape, and the next mixology of the colour spectrum, followed by love for colour stone and the deep connection with the animal kingdom!

I draw inspiration from nature, the wildlife around me, and my travels. Each of my designs has a story to tell. To begin with, the Mufasa brooch is inspired by Mufasa a.k.a Lion King, who was the King of Pride Rock; a wise, just, brave, and powerful leader. Mufasa's fur has been shaped in Punjab map form, demonstrating pride and bravery. The 'Primrose' ring and the 'Tulip' earrings are both inspired by primrose and tulip flowers, respectively. The 'Squirrel' ring draws inspiration from a cheerful little squirrel I came across.

Let's talk about all my winning designs at the French Design Awards, one by one, starting with the 'Mufasa' brooch. Mufasa a.k.a Lion King, was the King of Pride Rock; a wise, just, brave, and powerful leader. Inspired by this majestic leader, the Mufasa Brooch/Pendant has been set in 18K Gold with yellow Sapphires, Diamonds, Black Diamonds, and Rubies. Mufasa's fur has been shaped in Punjab map form, demonstrating pride and bravery. Secondly, the 'Primrose' ring, the ring was inspired by Primrose flowers. It is set in 18K Gold with Lemon Quartz Flower carvings in frosted and clear effect, Ethiopian Opal, Round Brilliant Diamonds, and beautiful Tulip-shaped Diamonds. Third, the 'Tulip' earrings, and yellow tulips represent happiness, cheerfulness, and hope. Victorians even believed yellow tulips meant "there's sunshine in your smile." The earrings were set in 18K gold with Lemon Quartz carvings in matt and a high polish finish. Each Tulip is adorned with dangling diamond beads and the stems are diamond pavé set in rose gold. Finally, the "Squirrel" ring, the Squirrel Ring, set in 18K Gold, adorns a beautiful 17.94ct pink Tourmaline cushion, flanked by drops and diamonds. The Squirrel was set in shades of Brown Diamonds. Keep in mind its characteristics. Squirrels are so fun, happy & innocent, and one of my favourite spirit animals! They encourage you to enjoy more fun and laughter, and just enjoy the wonders of your world! The ring has been designed with the same feeling, showing a squirrel happily enjoying its surroundings while munching on a wild berry!

Born in Calcutta and raised in Chandigarh, India, I was exposed to two completely different and unique cultures. Calcutta is all about art, history, and chaos, whereas Chandigarh is a relatively modern and well-planned city. Both cities played a vital role in instilling my interest in art and design. I take inspiration from nature, architecture, and my travels, and being a certified scuba diver has also sparked my unparallelled love of marine life.

I would like to thank the jury at the French Design Awards for understanding and appreciating my art and passion for coloured and exotic gemstones! As a spirited jewelry designer, I aim to be the ‘popstar’ of high jewelry and go beyond borders to celebrate my art and share my talent with the world.

All my designs are very special to me, as I have already said that jewelry design is very sacred to me. Therefore, I try to develop designs that have a remarkable identity and are inspired and tailored. Designs such as the 'Tulip' earrings and the 'Primrose' ring from the 'La Fleur' collection are both very special and delicate pieces, specially crafted from my love for the beautiful flora around us. The Squirrel Ring and Mufasa brooch are both important examples of my passion for wildlife and the beauty in them. I thought that the French Design Awards would be just the right platform for me to showcase my talent to the world.

Designing is quite a complicated process indeed; the design process starts with an inspiration or idea that is then conceptualised into a sketch and 3D render. The finalisation of the design takes most of the time because it requires a lot of skill and understanding to perfect a design. If we look at some of my designs, which are especially inspired by the animal kingdom, such as Squirrel Ring & Mufasa Brooch, they have been quite challenging to get the anatomy right. Once the designs are finalised, I make sure to pick just the exceptionally rare exotic gemstones to adorn my designs. Since I have a huge love for my craft, I do not see challenges as obstacles, I see them as opportunities to create rare and bespoke jewels.

I think winning an award or competition highlights how truly remarkable and outstanding your achievement is! Winning the ‘French Design Awards’ only adds a feather to my cap! Winning this award has brought me one step closer to my goal of becoming the 'Jewellery Popstar'. In the future, I am determined to create distinct and detailed pieces that will be trendsetters in the high jewelry industry.

1. Freedom of expression and the boldness and confidence with which people create art. 2. I love how different areas of the design industry are interconnected! I often take inspiration from architecture and patterns in my designs! 3. Bring like-minded people together and create a community.

My pieces are bold, inspired, unique, and trend-setting. In my opinion, what sets my designs apart from others is the use of exotic and rare coloured gemstones, which are unique and distinct in their own right! My designs have been set in 18K gold and handcrafted with true craftsmanship and skills, which also adds a distinct feature to their appeal. If you look at all my collections, be it 'Voyage', 'Memoir', 'Sylvan' or others, you find that each collection has a story to tell, an inspiration behind it, and a deep connection to nature.

While the jewelry design industry has grown at a much faster pace in the last few years, predicting its rampant growth in the next 5-10 years is a challenging trajectory. Bigger, bolder pieces are making a comeback with unique colour combinations. Men's jewelry and accessories are becoming more popular every year. Brands are artists working with newer metals like Titanium, which make jewelry pieces much lighter and more wearable. It also allows us to paint metal in vibrant colours!

I would strongly advise them to follow their gut and art style! Be bold, without fear of what people think. Create inspired pieces that tell a story. It will always be very personal to you and your experience and style.

The design industry offers a wide variety of options to explore, learn and grow. While design is a talent, you can explore endless possibilities to improve your skills. Specifically, speaking of the jewelry design industry, one must attend jewelry design workshops and join renowned design courses. Studying Gemmology changed my perspective on design. I started using a variety of unique gems and colours that I hadn't thought of before. Reading gem publications is also of great help and ensures that you join or connect with a network of like-minded people who have a similar zeal for the field they are in.

While I have a passion for gemstones and enjoy making jewelry, jewelry is not my only true passion! One thing that truly makes me happy is being around animals and one day I would like to live on a big farm with lots of animals.

Lady Gaga! Her bold and fearless style inspired me to be the 'Jewelry Popstar!' She never shied away from what people might think, and I love that.

My key to success is continuous learning; embracing a lifelong learning mindset. The world is constantly changing, and staying curious and open to new knowledge and skills is crucial to personal and professional growth. Believe in yourself, have confidence in your abilities, and believe that you have what it takes to achieve your goals. Self-belief is a powerful driving force that can help you overcome obstacles and reach new heights. Enjoy the journey; while it's important to have goals and strive for success, don't forget to enjoy the process. Celebrate milestones, find joy in small victories, and relish the journey to your goals.

Thank you so much for the insightful questions! They are very well thought out.