This product was carefully selected by tastemaker Ruth Runberg for Instant Heirloom.
“I have a romantic notion that, similar to antique furniture or objects, stones carry the stories of where they’ve been and who has owned them,” says treasure hunter Ruth Runberg. Founder of Charlotte, North Carolina-based R. Runberg, she’s an expert at sourcing unique curiosities and unusually beautiful furniture for a well-collected home. We tasked Runberg and her keen eye for exquisite pieces to spotlight a new product that she deems an instant heirloom—and why it's worthy of being passed down from one generation to the next.
Her choice transports us to Jaipur, India with a dazzling aquamarine and diamond tassel necklace by jeweler Munnu Kasliwal of Munnu Gem Palace. “Imagine what that aquamarine has seen on its journey,” says Runberg. For more on this masterful instant heirloom, read on.
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How did you discover jeweler Munnu Kasliwal?
In 2006, while working for the boutique Capitol in Charlotte, North Carolina, Runberg met Munnu and his son Siddharth. “I fell in love with their warm, generous spirits as well as with the storied history of their family, who are longtime jewelers to the Mughal emperors of India. Through our working together, I discovered and came to embrace so many new and wonderful attitudes and ideas about jewels."
"For example, the beauty of the underside of jewelry that touches the wearer’s skin is just as important as that which faces out to be seen by the world. Or the belief that a chipped or cracked stone should never be repaired, as the stone was protecting you from some sort of harm,” says Runberg. Munnu even found the perfect sapphire for the engagement ring from her husband.
After Munnu’s passing in 2012, Runberg traveled to Jaipur as a consultant and assisted Siddharth and the team with creating a new collection. “I witnessed the tradition and incredible talent of the artisans as well as the intoxicating pursuit of exceptional stones. Craftsmen still handcrafted pieces using centuries-old techniques. And each day, men would come to The Gem Palace offering to sell stones or rough to Siddharth, as gem dealers have for generations. One man had traveled across Afghanistan with a stunning emerald tucked deeply into the folds of his garment,” she says.
What drew you to this piece?
“The aquamarine stones are incredible! Munnu had a gift for choosing the most extraordinary stones, seeking exceptional colorations, and valuing the ‘life’ he saw in them far more than perfection or clarity. Though he worked with many top-graded stones, Munnu once told me that he found a flawless diamond very boring because anyone with the means could obtain it. When Munnu did find a stone that excited him, he preferred to keep it as close to how it would have been found in nature. You can see this in the organic, natural shape of the large stone of the tassel as well as the tumble bead fringe,” says Runberg.
Why do you think this necklace has staying power?
“Tassel necklaces have been worn since ancient times and in many cultures. My favorite examples are those depicted in Mughal paintings and those from the Art Deco period. This piece echoes both of these styles, but by using vibrant aquamarine tumble beads rather than faceted precious stones or pearls, Munnu adds the touch of modernity for which he is known,” Runberg says.
How would you style this necklace?
“I would wear this with a long, solid, clean-lined sundress or caftan for day or a strapless column gown for the evening so that the necklace is the star of the show. (And, if it really were mine, I’d probably even wear it with my pj’s around the house! It’s too beautiful not to!),” she says.
For more treasures from Munnu The Gem Palace, visit munnuthegempalace.com.
