Today we’d like to introduce you to Dipal Vanani.
Hi Dipal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in India and I spent most of my life there. My father owns a diamond business. Inspired by him, I pursued a career in gems and jewelry after graduating. While studying at Indian Diamond Institute, I became a gold medalist, which encouraged me to pursue further training at one of the most prestigious schools in jewelry – the Gemological Institute of America. After graduating, I returned to India in order to help my father expand his diamond business. Although I started Aarna Jewels, my first business at the age of 24, after returning home, God had different plans for me. In 2019, I married my husband and moved to Houston to be with him and his family. Building a new life in Houston without friends or my family was difficult, but I decided to trust in God’s plan for me and started working at my husband’s diamond business. On the side, I worked in an Indian grocery store to build customer service skills and meet people in the community. In 2020, I enrolled in an MBA program to develop the business skills I would need to ensure my venture’s success. After gaining some knowledge and work experience in The States, I launched my own jewelry company – Kiesh Jewelry – in early 2021. Right now, I’m working to take my company – Kiesh Jewelry to the next level with great new aspirations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
To be honest, it’s never easy. Hardship is inevitable. I can’t say it has been a smooth road. However, I am grateful for the growth and success I have attained in the time since I started my business. I am so grateful to have been blessed with supportive parents and siblings that have encouraged me to follow my passion and holding me tight when I fell. I have been to a lot of changes in past two years – personally and professionally. Moving to a different country without having family and friends around is hard. I have had my own struggles at every phase of my life.
Starting a new life from scratch was not a smooth road. But as they say, Journey is always more rewarding than destiny. I have learned a lot from the situations I have faced. I am immensely grateful to the problems I have had, which lead me to this day. Jewelry Designing is not a secure career to be honest. However, starting a fine jewelry business was not easy considering the hundreds, and later, thousands of dollars that just goes into cost of materials. It is also very difficult to have a team who will work with same quality as I want to. Additionally, a lot of my time has been spent teaching myself about almost every aspect of my business. Talking with different people and learning from their experiences has helped me overcome my fears and difficulties. I’ve spent endless days reading up about the stones and metals. Jewelry career is something that I decided to pursue as a passion. And what better than passion earning you bread. Each obstacle has helped me grow as a person and as a brand and I look forward to what the future holds!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I own a Fine Jewelry business. I chose to take my own approach to share my jewelry by simply sharing my passion with my clients. I try to take 1-2 personal meetings with my client. In the first meeting, I try to know what they really have in their mind and how it fits in their budget. I don’t make jewelry just to sell, you know what I mean. I try to explain every necessary information about diamonds so that even they understand where they are spending their money. We are members of various Diamond Clubs, which give us access to look at numerous stones all around the world and pick that fits perfectly to our client’s requirement.
During the second meeting, I show them the Wax model of how their jewelry is going to look and whether they want to make any changes. I handpick each diamond making sure to give the best in their budget without any quality compromise. We are the perfect blend of education in Gems and Jewelry and Experience in the manufacturing process, which helps us to guide our customers to the best. For me, Jewelry is not business. It is passion. We offer an easy communication method to make the ring manufacturing process very easy and stress-free for our clients. We share updates for the jewelry while it’s in the process with our customers to make them more connected to us. And Of course, We are also in constant connection with different charity organizations which help kids to get basic requirements and education for a better tomorrow. We share a part of the income we earn.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Personally, I try to find aspiration in little things. I believe no human being is perfect so it’s better not to look upon anyone and not to look down on anyone rather than getting disappointment later. You can learn everything you need to learn from the people around you. Look at your parents, siblings, friends, spouse, and even children. They all have their own struggles, but they make it to the end of the day so could you. It is really the vision and how you decide to build your life. My family has been the real people behind where I am today. My first year in Houston has been very hard but I have an immensely supportive husband and father-in-law who has stood behind me like a rock. My husband moved to the states with his family in 2012. As an immigrant, their initial years had a lot of hardship. They have made it through with hard work and dedication. I get inspired by them a lot. My father-in-law is an amazing person to ask for advice. In the US, apart from my husband, he is the only one I can trust with my life. They have trusted my decisions and helped me hang in there during difficult times.
Pricing:
- Rings – $ 200 – $35,000
- Pendant – $ 250 – $2,000
- Necklace – $1,000 – $ 2,500
- Weddings Band – $250 – $1,500
- Custom Jewelry – $ 500 – $ 40,000
Contact Info:
- Email: kieshjewelry@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kieshjewelry?igshid=eur5ssr60xz8
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KieshJewelry
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kiesh-jewelry-houston
Image Credits
Kiesh Jewelry
