Today we’d like to introduce you to Vraj Shah.
Vraj, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Jianna Jewelers was founded in 1986 in Mumbai, India, so as a third-generation jeweler, I grew up surrounded by the industry. While the Houston storefront marks our first retail store, my family’s vast experience includes a celebrated royal history, as our ancestors cut and polished jewels from the Golconda Kollur mine and presented them to the royal kings of South India. The heritage collection gems are unique.
I always knew I wanted to have a career in the jewelry industry, but I wasn’t entirely sure what that entailed until I went to school. After I received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Entrepreneurship from Rutgers University, I began pursuing gem craftsmanship during my graduate studies at the Gemological Institute of America. My passion for the jewelry industry led me to various internships in both the retail and manufacturing arenas in New York. I gained tremendous industry knowledge and created professional connections with both the International Gemological Institute and the Jewelers Board of Trade.
Opening the first retail location for Jianna Jewelers has been a dream of mine for quite some time and I’m thrilled to see it come to fruition. The jewelry industry is a mystery to consumers, so we want to change that by building relationships with our customers and creating a transparent, impactful experience for them. It’s our goal to make sure each and every person walks away with more knowledge about jewelry than what they came in with.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
At Jianna Jewelers, we design and create fine jewelry. We currently carry four different collections with pieces exclusive to our namesake – Bridal, Heritage, Ventura, Novel sand Vintage:
i. The Bridal Collection includes a beautiful selection of engagement rings, wedding bands, diamond necklaces and earrings.
ii. The Heritage Collection is inspired by designs and pieces dating as far back as the 1940s that were created by our ancestors.
iii. The Ventura Collection features one-of-a-kind designs that showcase our innovative way to set stones.
iv. The Vintage Collection displays colorful designs with a variety of gemstones including emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. We even have some convertible pieces that are interchangeable, allowing one piece to be worn multiple ways.
The Novel Collection includes a selection of delicate, minimalist necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings fit for the young at heart. This exquisite collection displays a range of pieces made for every day and occasion from diamond studs and tennis bracelets to dainty pavé diamond necklaces, perfect for every fine jewelry novice.
We are able to create exquisite, ethically sourced jewelry because we’ve maintained relationships with responsible gem mines and are able to ensure that each gemstone is one-of-a-kind and humanely crafted.
Often times purchasing a diamond is one of the most meaningful and financially significant decisions a person makes in his or her life, and we want the public to know that they can trust Jianna Jewelers with that decision. We encourage our customers to ask questions so they can make an informed decision and leave completely satisfied, knowing they purchased their perfect diamond.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Consumers are aware now more than ever about the quality and sourcing of products. Human rights, environmental impact and social impact are top of mind, which is why we emphasize being an ethically-sourced jeweler. Our values rest in the relationship we cultivate with our customers and it’s based on honesty and respect. We place extreme value in transparency and that translates to everything we do from the stone’s sourcing to jewelry pricing and the high level of craftsmanship that our artisans are known for.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Our showroom is located at 3300 Kirby Dr., Ste 5A, Houston, TX 77098, so people can come by the showroom to see all of our pieces, try something on or meet about a custom design they’d like for us to create. You can also see our jewelry on our website, https://jiannajewelers.com/, and on our Facebook and Instagram.
People can support our work by giving creatives ideas or by giving us custom designs to create.
Contact Info:
- Address: Jianna Jewelers
3300 Kirby Drive Suite 5A
Houston TX, 77098 - Website: www.jiannajewelers.com
- Phone: 713-524-3333
- Email: vraj@jiannajewelers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jiannajewelers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JiannaJewelers/
Image Credit:
Traci Ling Photography
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