Jeweler Krishna Choudhary on His 1930s Rolex, Dark Chocolate, and Daily Meditation
Krishna Choudhary easily could have stayed with the family business. His ancestors have spent 10 generations sourcing jewels for India’s great and good and most notably supplied exquisite gems to maharajas and noble families in the 18th century. But after working for Royal Gems & Arts for several years, Choudhary started his own jewelry brand in 2019, called Santi, named after his dear old dad. The London-based company’s wares marry contemporary design with centuries-old stones, work that requires the 36-year-old to flit between the United Kingdom and Jaipur’s Old City. Not only is the ancient metropolis a deep source of inspiration for Choudhary, but it’s also his clan’s ancestral home. He spent his childhood roaming the halls and rooms of his family’s sumptuous haveli—a richly decorated traditional mansion—that various relations have filled with frescoes and museum-quality artifacts since the 1700s. His contributions reflect a penchant for modernist furnishings and underscore his love for blending old and new. Ahead of Santi’s debut at TEFAF, the European Fine Art Foundation’s annual fair in the Dutch town of Maastricht this March, we asked Choudhary for his take on what makes life sparkle.
What have you done recently for the first time?
I started padel and I love it. I use this great app, Playtomic, where it’s really simple to find a court indoors, especially in London. You can easily form a game with three other players. You meet interesting and random people, which I love.
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What apps do you use the most?
Spotify to fill my daily walks with either music or podcasts. Headspace is also part of my daily meditation routine.
Do you have any personal rituals?
My ritual in the morning is to make my bed, have a warm glass of water, and gradually start with a meditative track of ragas on the Indian flute. It kind of brings me to center, starting up my senses through the ears.
What do you most crave at the end of the day?
A good dark chocolate.
How do you find calm?
I love taking time off to retreats every year where I leave my phone away for at least 14 days. I especially like Vana, a Six Senses escape in Dehra-dun, northern India, which changed by life. The first time I went, I left my phone in Jaipur and took a burner phone with me. It was incredible.
Who is your guru?
My mother is my guru. [She] really helped me build my values as I was growing up. It’s a lot about dignity and confidence. Also accepting your mistakes and apologizing for them. Growing up, we had to do that a lot. I hated it, but looking back I’m really proud my mother made me do it.
What’s your favorite cocktail, and how do you make it?
An old-fashioned with a lot of bitters.
What’s the most recent thing you’ve added to your collection?
A beautiful painting by MinJung Kim.
What’s the most impressive dish you cook?
Pasta aglio e olio. I also make khichidi, an Indian porridge. Everyone else in my family finds it boring, but I can have it three days a week.
What is your exercise routine, and how often do you do it?
I find exercise boring and monotonous, whereas sport is a bit more rewarding. I enjoy swimming and playing padel, which gets me running around. I play twice a week.
What does success look like to you?
When I envision a piece of jewelry and can implement it in reality.
If you could learn a new skill, what would it be?
If I could get the time, I’d love to learn to fly a plane.
How much do you trust your gut instinct?
Very much. I live by my gut instinct. I have seen that my first solution or answer has always been the correct one.
Where do you get your clothes?
My wardrobe always has a Jodhpuri, which is made to measure in India. Otherwise it’s a combination of Uniqlo, Boggi, and Brunello Cucinelli.
Drive or be driven?
In busy European cities, I prefer to be driven. But I like driving in the Indian countryside, exploring the little villages and farms outside Jaipur. It’s a bit adventurous, but it’s fun.
Are you wearing a watch? How many do you own?
I am wearing a Rolex Prince. My three favorite watches are the Rolex Prince, an Audemars Piguet ultrathin [Royal Oak], and a vintage Swatch.
When was the last time you completely unplugged?
At Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. The island is just incredibly filled with natural vegetation and has some of the best coral reefs I have ever seen in my life. Almost every color you can imagine.
Who do you admire most, and why?
Suzanne Belperron, as a jewelry designer. She was ahead of her time in her design approach, with an incredible confidence to not sign her pieces. She used to say that her design is her signature!
What is your email etiquette?
Is there email etiquette anymore? If so, I like to acknowledge them quickly and also take a friendly approach in replying.
What is the car you are most attached to?
I enjoy off-roading, so a Mitsubishi Pajero and Land Rover Discovery are my favorites. But I also love the London black cab. Nothing gets you faster to your destination in busy traffic.
Last film you paid to see?
Gladiator II. Honestly, it wasn’t the greatest movie, but I was looking forward to the rush of nostalgia that I had for Gladiator I.
Last Netflix binge or box set?
I just finished Shōgun—it’s an incredible series.
What sort of music makes you happy?
Acoustic and classic jazz. [And] I love the incredible sitar player Anoushka Shankar, who has deep roots from India and is experimenting beautifully with global music. I especially love her track Traces of You, which also features Norah Jones.
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