Sutra
Jewels

Arpita Navlakha grew up among gemstones — her family were jewelers — and the Sanskrit name (a continuous thread) points to what runs through the work she now makes with her husband Divyanshu: color.

Sutra’s design language draws on the surface decoration of the Edwardian era and the geometric confidence of Art Deco, then scales both into something contemporary. The focal point of every piece is a large, bold colored stone — often unusual in shape — with the architecture of gold built around it. Paraiba tourmalines, Mandarin garnets, and pink spinels recur, and the butterfly motif, rooted in Arpita’s childhood gardens in India, is the house’s signature.

Sutra has appeared on Halle Berry, Michelle Obama, Jennifer Lopez (in Sutra diamond and ruby earrings at the 2015 Met Gala), Rihanna, and Oprah. I handed Divyanshu Navlakha his Couture award for Best Use of Colored Stones, went to see his collection the very next day, and have carried Sutra ever since.