The Shrishti (Universe in Sanskrit) Series depicts the ethereal beauty of Nebulae gleaming in the dark infinite outerspace. These formations are clouds of gas and dust, visible in the night sky. Follow the Vaneesha Necklace from inspiration to final creation.
The energy inside the translucent clouds of gas that lights up a nebula also power these stellar nurseries. These ethereal clouds inspired Dani to create a necklace worthy of the Queen of the Universe, Vaneesha, glowing with light and gems.
SKETCHING HER VISION
Dani sketches different ideas for the necklace focusing on twisted forms alive with the energy of the universe. The glowing areas where stars are born are given the bright unearthly blue of Paraiba tourmaline. She imagines blue and purple sapphires and green tsavorites creating the brilliant hues of the cosmic gas clouds.Dani meticulously carves the wax to create large twisting ribbons of light. She envisions gems cradled in the ribbons. She creates spaces for magical water opals and bright Paraiba tourmalines and rose-cut diamonds throughout her composition.The model is cast in silver so Dani can see how it lays comfortably on the neck and adjust the placement of the opals so they catch the light from different angles.Dani maps the perfect placement for each diamond, blue sapphire, purple sapphire, and tsavorite to create the dynamic flow of energy in the nebula. She paints a dot to show each shade in the final composition.For the central section of the design, Dani choose to work in Titanium, an extremely complex and difficult metal to mold, but extremely light weight, allowing a voluminous, large form remain light and comfortable to wear. Neha Dani also perfected a process in which Titanium is anodized in custom colors, a permanent process that creates unique, bold finishes. For Vaneesha she chose a vibrant blue rhodium finish so the gems can float like clouds of color. An 18k white gold articulated collar wraps around the neck.Setting the gems takes 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. Setting is done under magnification so that every detail is perfect. Only a few workshops in the world have the skill required to set so precisely on such complex three-dimensional forms. The center gems are then revealed: three Mexican Water Opals weighing 45.63 carats, three Paraiba Tourmaline cabochons and five step cut diamonds are finally set in place.
The Vaneesha Necklace is complete. Although it is set with 1428 gems, it is as delicate and ethereal as the nebula that inspired it. When worn the water opals glow and burn with mysterious clouds of spectral light. It is a masterpiece of the jeweler’s art.
