Today we’d like to introduce you to Parth Jhaveri.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Parth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been around diamonds & jewelry for as long as I can remember. I was born into a family of diamantaires – my last name, Jhaveri, literally means jeweler in Gujarati (derived from the Arabic word, javahari). With such a rich and extensive family background of the precious jewel trade, I knew from a very young age that I was destined to follow my forefathers. Privosa traces back to humble beginnings in early 1900’s India, where past generations of my family laid the groundwork for what would become a successful diamond house. My ancestors began by purchasing intricate jewelry from royal households. They then used this jewelry to learn & understand the process of creating such precious works of art.
The company grew as future generations began dealing in raw materials, such as loose diamonds, precious gems, gold, and silver. They also prepared these raw materials to be used for wear and aesthetics – something that wasn’t done much before. They attracted the attention of jewelry brands and diamond dealers worldwide, quickly becoming known for superior quality and design. Later, in the 1960’s, factories were built to cut and polish loose diamonds from their rough form, processing them to be used in common bridal and fashion jewelry that we are used to seeing today. In 1991, my parents moved to Houston from Mumbai, India.
They founded Diastar Inc, a company that supplies loose diamonds and fine jewelry to other wholesalers and independent jewelers around the globe. I grew up spending after school hours and summer vacations at the office. I accompanied my father on buying trips to India. I’ve seen him service Houston area retailers and beyond with utmost honesty, care, and dependability. His exceptional customer service and a large selection of high-quality diamonds kept his customers coming back. These work habits, values, and ethics inspired me.
After graduating from Texas A&M in 2014 (whoop!), I moved to a small city in India called Surat. It is the diamond hub of the world – 9 out of 10 diamonds cut and polished in the world hail from India and 75 % of all these diamonds are manufactured in Surat. I began training in a well-known factory there under the tutelage of skilled artisans. I learned the ins and outs of diamond manufacturing by using cutting edge technology and modern techniques to extract maximum value from each rough diamond.
Subsequently, I moved to Mumbai for a year where I trained in a jewelry factory. This time I learned the process of gold jewelry manufacturing. I learned to cast metals, set diamonds, resize rings, and most importantly, how to design some really unique jewelry. Upon my return to Houston, I was still unsure of what I was going to do.
As my own friends were slowly getting engaged or married, I realized a few things: 1) engagement rings are always in demand 2) millennials would rather spend money on experiences and 3) online shopping is becoming increasingly popular. I knew then that I had to use my family history and my own experiences to create something new – a brand that could provide high-quality diamonds & custom jewelry at wholesale prices. Thus, Privosa was born.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine.
As any startup would, Privosa did initially face a few barriers that were difficult to overcome. These hurdles ranged from establishing a new brand in a competitive market to correctly identifying our target demographic & the kind of products they would buy.
However, these challenges only made us stronger. We learned that some things are out of our control & instead of getting distracted, it is better to keep moving and focus on the end goal. Staying resilient is key.
Privosa Fine Jewelry – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Privosa is an online shop where customers can easily sift through a collection of over 100,000+ natural, conflict-free, GIA graded diamonds & simultaneously design an engagement ring to hold the diamond they choose. Our curated inventory is one of a kind, yet diverse enough to ensure that we can adapt to ever-changing trends in the industry.
A diamond represents more than just love. It symbolizes prosperity, endurance, and perseverance. We want your diamond to remain meaningful to you and your significant other, so we guarantee that you will always be provided with the best products at the lowest prices. Our long-standing passion for precious jewel design is visibly etched into every piece of jewelry we make, exemplifying what it means to be considered creators of the finest jewelry.
Sometimes when making a large purchase like an engagement ring, we feel more comfortable talking to a live person, rather than a chat box. Privosa also has a physical presence in the Galleria area where we take custom orders & meet with clients in person. Call today to make an appointment. Just ask for Parth!
For Privosa, Houston is Home. We take great pride in our community- using southern values as guiding principals in all that we do. When Hurricane Harvey ravaged the city, our team was out and about volunteering at shelters & rescuing those stranded in high waters. It made me extremely proud to see that no matter what, Houstonians always come together when disaster hits.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
While in Surat, my final project as a trainee was to cut and polish a diamond with my own hands. I spent about a month, delicately whittling the rough diamond down to its finished state. In comparison, the workers at the factory would take an average of 1 week per diamond.
Once I completed the stone, I gifted the diamond to my mother and saw her eyes fill with tears of happiness. That was the proudest moment of my career.
Pricing:
- FREE pair of diamond stud earrings ($200 value) with any online purchase of $2000 or above.
- FREE insured, overnight shipping for online purchases.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6222 Richmond Ave. Suite 799
Houston, TX 77057 - Website: www.privosa.com
- Phone: 832-455-2498
- Email: info@privosa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/privosa
- Facebook: https://www,facebook.com/privosa
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/privosa_
Image Credit:
Kajal Krishan Photography, Rachel Driskell Photography, Shan Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
