From her hypnotic jewels to the diamond-themed paintings she sells for charity, this Indian-born designer knows how to dazzle.
It is 11 a.m. in Toronto, but Reena Ahluwalia has already been at her desk for more than six hours, and her day won’t end until well after midnight. Such is the daily routine of this energetic — and brilliant — artist, lecturer and jeweler.
While Canada has been her home for nearly two decades, Ahluwalia started her life and career in India, where she was soon identified as a star on the rise.
“I went to a really amazing school, The National Institute of Fashion Technology [in New Delhi],” she says. “India has more than one billion people, so for art school, there were 10,000 applicants, seven sets of exams, and only 12 students were selected. I was too young to know this was such a privilege, as I thought I was so good. In hindsight, I look back and think how fortunate I was.”
Taking it on the road
Ahluwalia chuckles at the arrogance of youth, but this cocky exuberance led her to interesting places. Freshly graduated, she landed a job as one of 50 designers at one of India’s largest diamond jewelry manufacturers, Suraj Diamonds. When asked what she needed to work, she demanded not sharper pencils or a quiet spot, but a camera and funding for a trip around India. Miraculously, her bosses agreed, and she started off on what would be a rich journey of inspiration.
“That was really good,” smiles Ahluwalia. “I could go to different cities and sit on the floor with incredibly talented jewelers. Jewelry is such an old business in India, so the techniques they use are fascinating.”
A whirl of successes
Many collections, collaborations and competition victories later (including the highly prestigious De Beers International Diamond Award in 2000 for a 196.56-carat necklace-cum-shoulder jewel), she has built a bustling brand.
In addition to designing for private clients, she has lent her creativity to industry giants such as miners Rio Tinto and De Beers. It was, in fact, a project with the latter’s Canadian diamond mines that prompted her move to the country.
One of her most recent ventures is a partnership with Hong Kong-based jewelry brand Coronet. Perhaps the most spectacular of the Coronet by Reena collections she has created is Inner Brilliance, a line of diamond jewels with patented watch-like mechanisms, which took three years to develop. The design allows pendants and the tops of rings to spin with the flick of a finger.
“It’s all about self-expression and a deep emotional connection to our values,” says Ahluwalia of the collection. “The pieces have a pointer. The jewelry spins in a mesmerizing way, but it always points back to center, which represents what’s most valuable to you — your personal goals, your inner brilliance.”
Why make art if it does not have any tangible result and contribution?
The art of giving
While prices for these hypnotic dazzlers start at $1,000, Ahluwalia was keen that this fun concept should not be restricted to the top end of the market. As such, she has created a more affordable line that swaps gold for silver and diamonds for Swarovski Created Stones, bringing the starting price down to $300.
When not designing jewels or teaching (she gives lectures on jewelry design at schools around the world), Ahluwalia can often be found painting hyperrealistic images of diamonds. These works aren’t just beautiful; they also serve a purpose.
“Each year, I donate my paintings and prints to generate funds,” says the artist, who estimates those sales have raised $50,000 for the charity Jewelers for Children. “Why make art if it does not have any tangible result and contribution?”
While that youthful pomp might have softened over time, it would seem that Ahluwalia’s drive, focus and determination have remained just as bright and dazzling as her spinning diamonds.
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