Dani sketched different ideas for the necklace focusing on flowing forms alive with the energy of the universe. She envisioned the necklace to be luminescent with the stellar glow of distant galaxies. Blue and purple brilliance were to envelop the necklace like cosmic gas clouds. From her sketches and vision was born a complex and voluminous structure of the necklace, detailed with a colour palette that would evoke the energies that inspired Neha Dani.
Moving to her workshop table, Neha meticulously carved the wax to create ribbons of light. She envisioned gems cradled in the ribbons, each of them carefully chosen and placed in harmony. Magical water opals, bright Paraiba tourmalines and rose-cut diamonds were visualized along the ribbons of wax and carefully simulated in the model.
As is part of her detailed and foolproof process, the wax model was then used to cast in silver so that Dani could check every detail of the jewel including the comfort of the wearer, adjusting the placement of the opals and other gems so they catch the light from different angles.
Each gem was mapped by Neha to achieve the perfect placement. Carefully selected diamonds, blue sapphires, purple sapphires, and tsavorites were set to create the dynamic flow of galactic energy along the curves of the silver model, each type of gem marked in a different colour, during the mapping process.
Given the complexity of the sculptural piece, Neha chose to work with Titanium for the central section of the design. A difficult metal to mould, Titanium is extremely light weight, allowing a voluminous, large form to remain light and comfortable to wear. Adding more of her artistic genius, Neha Dani also perfected a process in which Titanium is anodized in custom colors, a permanent finish that is unique and bold. For Vaneesha she chose a vibrant blue rhodium finish so the gems seem to float on clouds. An 18k white gold articulated collar formed the wrap around the neck.
The final adornment of Vaneesha was the setting of the gems. A detailed process this stage of setting gems took more than 4 months. Following Dani’s color maps, skilled craftsmen set 460 diamonds, 444 blue sapphires, 305 purple sapphires, 79 tsavorites, and 130 Paraiba tourmalines. Done under magnification so that every detail is perfect, Neha closely supervised each setting. The crowning glory of Vaneesha were the centre gems - three Mexican Water Opals weighing 45.63 carats, three Paraiba Tourmaline cabochons and five step cut diamonds. In their final placements, the gems elevated the necklace to an intense work of art. The entire design and fabrication process of Vaneesha spanned a full year.
In its completed beauty, Vaneesha is set with 1428 gems. Yet it is as delicate and ethereal as the nebula that inspired it. When worn the water opals glow mysteriously like heavenly light. The sapphires glisten, reflecting the calm energy that inspires us through life. A masterpiece of artistry and craftsmanship, Vaneesha is truly a queen’s adornment.