Interview with Pavit Gujral from United Arab Emirates

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Pavit Gujral

Pavit Gujral is an acclaimed jewelry designer and gemologist as well as the CEO of Pavit Gujral Designs and she aspires to become the 'Popstar' of fine jewelry. Driven by a perfectionist approach, each piece is meticulously curated and influenced by nature, architecture, and extensive travels.


Interview With The 2023 London Design Awards Winner – Pavit Gujral

1Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your design background.

I am an award-winning Jewellery Designer & Gemologist who aims to be the ‘Popstar’ of the Fine Jewellery industry. I graduated from the renowned Gemological Institute of America, New York in 2015. I have won many awards globally and I aspire to continue this winning streak of mine.

I am a perfectionist and all my pieces are curated with utmost attention to detail. I take inspiration from nature, architecture, and my travels as I am also a certified scuba diver. My goal is to not only design one-of-a-kind, trendsetting jewellery but to also educate people about various gemstones.

I aim to create extravagant pieces, handcrafted with passion and creativity and made using the best grade of gemstones. Each piece tells a story, leaves a legacy, and sets trends creating a new wave of innovative concepts in the jewellery design industry.

2What made you become/why did you choose to become a designer/artist?

Being brought up in a country immeasurably wealthy in culture and craftsmanship has impacted my tendency toward design. From an exceptionally young age, I realized that I would like to be in the design industry, particularly shoes. However, my affection for gemstones drove me towards jewellery and I proceeded to seek my Graduate Gemology degree at the eminent Gemological Institute of America, New York.

I have an exceptionally amazing bond and love for nature and animals as 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.

3Tell us more about your agency/company, job profile, and what you do.
I am the CEO and head designer of my company, ‘Pavit Gujral Designs’ that is based in Dubai Design District in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The studio is based on the concept of giving a bespoke and unique high jewellery experience to the clients via appointment.
4What does “design” mean to you?

Design for me is an expression of emotions and a means to tell stories. It involves the thoughtful and deliberate arrangement of elements that is 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.

5What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
My favourite kind of design is when I can bring nature to life combined with unique colour combinations and finesse.
6To you, what makes a “good” design?

In jewellery design, several factors contribute to what is considered a "good" design. I follow the five elements of design myself which helps me curate bold and bespoke pieces.

Firstly, all my designs are inspired by nature’s beauty and bounty, secondly what appeals to me is the beauty in randomness of shape, and next mixology of the colour spectrum, followed by love for colour stone and the profound connection with the animal kingdom!

7How did you come up with the idea for your award-winning design?
All my pieces are inspired and have a story to tell! I have various collections inspired by nature, animals, travels, and scuba diving. The ‘Giza collection’ was inspired by my trip to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The award-winning ‘Octopus Ring’ came to life from my love for the marine world and its exotic creatures and the idea to develop the cheeky ‘Langur Earring’ came from my immense love for the animal kingdom.
8What was your main source of inspiration for this design?

Let us start talking about the Award-winning ‘Giza collection’, This collection has been inspired by my travel to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The Tikka (headpiece) is quite an important jewellery piece in India, especially during weddings and I wanted to create a contemporary version of it, something that is different from the standard round or oval. The diamonds used are trillions and baguettes which differ from the standard use of round brilliants. The Giza Collection has been set in/Gold with over 25cts of Trillion Diamonds, Baguette Diamonds & Round Brilliant Diamonds; 50cts of multi-coloured Briolette Sapphires, accented by over 40cts of Pearls. Pastel sapphires and rose-coloured pearls are added to the piece to complement the diamonds.

My playful ‘Langur Earrings’ is inspired by India’s leaping Langurs that can be holy, helpful, or even pesky, the Langur Earrings are one of my most playful and favourite pieces. According to National Geographic, a Langur is “a monkey that knows no bounds.” Langur, meaning “having a long tail”, also known as Hanuman or Grey Langur have white fur and a black face and are considered sacred animals. The Langur Earrings have been set in 18K Gold with two 77.60cts Pear Brilliant Morganite Beryl, Tahitian Pearls, Princess Diamonds, Round Brilliant Diamonds, and Orange Sapphires. The earrings are fun, and it almost seems as though the cheeky Langur is teasing you!

Lastly, the award-winning, ‘Octopus Ring’ is an elaborate ring has been set in 18K gold with a beautiful oval 13.53ct chocolate opal, 7.80ct round brilliant cognac diamonds, and 9.68ct round brilliant diamonds. As unique as the camouflaging eight-legged creature, the Octopus Ring is an absolute stunner and not for the faint of heart! As a totem, the octopus is a symbol of emotions, intelligence, logic, flexibility, and creativity. This ring is a conversation starter.

9Do you think your country and its cultural heritage has an impact on your design process?
Born in Calcutta, and raised in Chandigarh, India, I had exposure 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 have played a vital role in inculcating 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 unmatched love for marine life.
10Congratulations! As the winner of the London Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
I’d like to thank the jury at London Design Awards for understanding and appreciating my art and passion for coloured and exotic gemstones! As a spirited jewellery designer, I aim to be the ‘popstar’ of high jewellery and go beyond borders to celebrate my art and share my talent with the world.
11Can you explain a bit about the winning work you entered into the 2023 London Design Awards, and why you chose to enter this project?

All of my designs are very special to me, as I have already said that jewellery designing is very sacred to me, hence I try to develop designs that have a remarkable identity of them all, inspired and bespoke designs such as the ‘Giza Collection’, is a part of my ‘Voyage Collection’, signifying my love for travel and how nature, flora, and fauna inspire me.

The ‘Langur Earrings’ and the ‘Octopus Ring’ are living examples of my distinct yet sheer love for the animal kingdom, the wildlife on land as well as in the ocean inspires me! I thought that the London Design Awards will be just the right platform for me to showcase my talent to the world.

12What were the main challenges you faced during the design process, and how did you overcome them?

Designing is quite a complicated process indeed, the design process starts with an inspiration or idea which is then conceptualized into a sketch and 3D render. The finalization of the design takes most of the time as 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 the Squirrel Ring, Al Maha Brooch, and Langur Earrings, they have been quite challenging to get the anatomy exact. Once, the designs are finalized, I make sure to pick just the exceptionally rare exotic gemstones to adorn my designs.

Since I have immense love for my craft, I do not see the challenges as hurdles, I look at them as opportunities to create rare and bespoke jewels.

13How do you think winning this award will impact your future as a designer?
I think that winning an award or competition highlights how truly notable and outstanding one’s achievement is! Winning the London Design Awards only adds a feather to my cap! Winning this award has got me a step closer to my goal of becoming the 'Jewellery Popstar’. In the future, I am determined to create distinct and detailed pieces which will be trendsetters in the high jewellery industry.
14What are your top three (3) favourite things about our industry?

1. Freedom of expression and the boldness & confidence with which people are creating art.

2. I love how different fields of the design industry are interconnected with each other! I so many times take inspiration from architecture and patterns in my designs!

3. Bringing like-minded people together and creating a community.

15What sets your design apart from others in the same category?

My pieces are bold, inspired, unique, and trendsetting. 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 one were to look across all my collections, be it ‘Voyage’, ’Memoir', 'Sylvan’ or others, they find that each collection has a story to tell, an inspiration behind and a deep connection with nature.

16Where do you see the evolution of design industry going over the next 5-10 years?

While the jewellery 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 jewellery & accessories are becoming more popular every year. Brands are artists working with newer metals like Titanium which make the jewellery pieces much lighter and more wearable. It also allows us to plate the metal in vibrant colours!

17What advice do you have for aspiring designers who want to create award-winning designs?
I would firmly advise them to follow their gut and art style! Be bold, without the fear of what people think. Create inspired pieces that tell a story. That will always be very personal to you and your experiences and style.
18What resources would you recommend to someone who wants to improve their skills in the design industry?

The design industry offers a wide variety of options to explore, learn and grow. While designing is a talent, one can explore endless possibilities to improve their skills. Specifically talking about the jewellery design industry, one must attend jewellery design workshops and join reputed designing courses.

Studying Gemmology really changed my outlook toward designing. I started using a variety of unique gemstones and colors that I didn’t think of before. Reading gem publications is also of great help and making sure that one joins or connects with a network of like-minded people who have a similar zeal for the field that they are in.

19Tell us something you have never told anyone else.
While I have a passion for gemstones and enjoy making jewellery, it 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.
20Who has inspired you in your life and why?
Lady Gaga! Her bold and fearless style inspired me to be the ‘Jewellery Popstar’! She never shied away from what people might think and I love that.
21What is your key to success? Any parting words of wisdom?

My key to success is continuous learning; embrace a lifelong learning mindset. The world is constantly evolving and staying curious and open to new knowledge and skills is crucial for 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 the small victories, and relish the journey toward your goals.

22Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
I truly had an amazing time answering your thoughtful questions!

Winning Entries

Octopus Ring | 2023

octopus-ring-pavit-gujral-designs

The Octopus Ring has been set in 18K Gold with a beautiful oval Chocolate Opal, round brilliant Cognac Diamonds and round brilliant Diamonds. The piece has been …
(Read more at London Design Awards)

Langur Earrings | 2023

langur-earrings-pavit-gujral-designs

The Langur Earrings have been in 18K Gold with two 77.60cts Pear Brilliant Morganite Beryl’s, Tahitian Pearls, Princess Diamonds, Round Brilliant Diamonds and Orange Sapphires …
(Read more at London Design Awards)


Pavit Gujral

Pavit Gujral is an acclaimed jewelry designer and gemologist as well as the CEO of Pavit Gujral Designs and she aspires to become the 'Popstar' of fine jewelry. Driven by a perfectionist approach, each piece is meticulously curated and influenced by nature, architecture, and extensive travels.


Read more about this interview with Jessica Zhengjia Hu of NO.72 Design Studio, the Gold Winner of the 2023 London Design Awards.

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