For Aadhya Aggarwal, Founder & Creative Director, Manaal, jewellery design has always been intuitive. It’s all about instinct, storytelling, and trusting your eye to bring emotion and elegance into form, she says.
Having grown up in a family of gem dealers, Aadhya Aggarwal learnt how various gemstones interact with light and metal. As she grew older, she found her calling in showcasing these beautiful gems in fine jewellery. She honed her skills by studying old-world as well as modern jewellery, understanding how different hues complement each other, and knowing when to let a jewel’s natural beauty shine without overcomplicating the design.
Her jewellery brand Manaal honours her roots while reimagining tradition through a contemporary lens. “Every piece I create is something that I’d personally wear or fall in love with. My goal is to honour the stone – whether it’s a white diamond or a richly coloured gem. The more time I spend with each one, the more I understand its mood, its light and personality. And when the design finally clicks, it feels less like creation and more like discovery,” says the young designer.
Aadhya Aggarwal talks to Solitaire International about her moments of epiphany, how jewellery is her creative canvas and more.
Was there a defining moment that made you realise that you were meant to be a jewellery designer?
Jewellery has always been woven into the fabric of my life. I come from a family deeply rooted in the B2B side of the jewellery industry, where craftsmanship and trade were part of daily conversations. While the business side was familiar, what truly captivated me was the creative process—the artistry, the design, the transformation of materials into something meaningful.
That journey, however, wasn’t linear. From preparing for the GMAT to studying at NIFT, and eventually earning my Graduate Diamonds certification from GIA, it took a few detours for me to realise that design wasn’t just a passion—it was my language.
Two moments stand out as turning points. The first was exhibiting at DJWE (Doha Jewellery and Watch Exhibition) with my family’s firm KD Gems — my first international showcase. I felt an immediate sense of belonging, as if I had stepped into the space, I was always meant to be in. The second was grading a diamond accurately on my very first attempt, even before any formal training. That confidence confirmed it for me — this isn’t just legacy — it’s instinct.
Why did you feel the need to launch your own brand?
For nearly eight decades, my family’s name has been synonymous with exceptional craftsmanship in the wholesale jewellery trade — a legacy built largely on my father’s commitment to artisanal quality over mass production. It’s a heritage I deeply respect and carry with pride.
But I always felt drawn to explore jewellery as something more intimate, a personal dialogue between creator and wearer. That vision became the foundation for Manaal: a brand where each piece is envisioned as wearable art.
What influences your design aesthetics?
I’m deeply moved by beauty in all its forms and often find myself romanticising the everyday—the delicate filigreed gate spotted on a morning walk, or the memory of a motif from an antique fan I adored as a child in Singapore. My aesthetic is rooted in my own creative voice, but it’s in constant dialogue with the world around me. Travel, art, architecture, even the films and podcasts I immerse myself in, all shape and evolve my perspective.
Nature’s organic curves, intricate textiles, and cultural motifs often find their way into my designs. Sometimes, it is the gemstone itself; its colour, cut, and dazzle, which guides the entire creative process. It tells me whether a piece should flow with softness and fluidity, or stand with bold, sculptural intent. Every jewel becomes a quiet story, a synthesis of memory, material, and meaning.
What is that one element that can make or break a good jewellery design?
Proportion is everything! Whether a design leans towards maximalism or minimalism, it’s the balance of elements that ultimately defines its success. If the proportions are even slightly off a piece can feel overwhelming or underwhelming. But when they’re just right, the design feels effortless. It becomes wearable, yet impactful.
Could you tell us a little more about your latest collection?
My Lumière Sur Toile collection was born from my fascination with light — how it falls, shifts, softens, and how it evokes feeling. The collection draws from the art of Pointillism, where countless delicate strokes or dots create a greater whole.
I have added a lot of rose-cuts for their soft, ethereal glow. There’s something almost dreamlike about the way they catch and diffuse light, rather than reflect it sharply. The pieces are intentionally airy, with space between elements, allowing light to pass through and linger, almost like breath on skin.
We have also launched another collection The Empress of the Reef. This collection began with a desire to turn corals into wearable art. The collection moves through soft oranges into deep blacks, inspired by the natural gradient of reefs at sunset, and the surreal shadows cast by Arizona’s The Wave.
I handpicked exceptional Japanese and Italian corals and let their form guide the design. Black enamel, cultured pearls, and rose-cut diamonds became my palette, each chosen to mirror nature’s depth, softness, and mystery.
If you were not a jewellery designer, then what would you be?
I’ve always been drawn to spaces where creativity flows freely—it’s where I feel most alive. If I weren’t designing jewellery, I imagine I’d still be immersed in something equally expressive. Curating luxury events, designing fashion, working as an artist or even a chef—all of these creative paths have called to me at different points. I’ve had the chance to explore both fashion and event design professionally, and they continue to influence my perspective. I also hold a deep appreciation for wellness, and becoming a yoga expert is something I often dream about—it feels like another form of mindful artistry and personal alignment.