The Regal Touch l Jaipur Gems Owner Padam Sacheti shares his 40-year journey in a thriving business that has a seven century history to boast of

The Regal Touch

l Jaipur Gems

Owner Padam Sacheti shares his 40-year journey in a thriving business that has a seven century history to boast of

Dazzling beneath Swarovski lights, pristine stones gleam at you when you enter the Jaipur Gems showroom in South Mumbai. Padam Sacheti peering over a few shiny pearls, taps shut his laptop as he readies to share with us a story rich with experience and nostalgia. Generations ago, jewellery was not sold out of showrooms like it is today. "People worked from home and were known for their peculiar style, designs and craftsmanship," says Sacheti. As time went by, small shops started coming up as customers started trusting the jeweller's name. However, nearly 40 years ago, when Sacheti entered the business fresh out of engineering college, the scenario had changed. "When I decided to join the industry, most outfits were family owned. A senior family member would get associated with a jeweller and the entire family would don that jeweller's creations,"laughs Sacheti, recalling how back in the day, a single person did the gold-shopping for the whole clan. With changing times, boundaries dissolved, the customer got demanding. "Customers no longer wanted standard, similar designs that their grandmothers and aunts wore," says Sacheti. "Growing income made people turn to jewellery as an investment and thus, sales started increasing." Back in the day, royalty sported the best of clothes and needless to say, the best of jewellery. Sacheti tells us how jadau, polki and diamonds, something he specialises in, became popular in that era among the masses because of its aspiration value. "Initially people didn't know how to value or cut diamonds. We neither had the demand nor the technology for that," he explains. So when people saw the maharajas and maharani's wearing uncut diamonds, they wanted to wear something similar. When the British came to India, they brought their own style and design with them and that's when full cut diamonds started becoming popular, he says. After years of experience, Sacheti has come to believe that an entrepreneur should change his outlook in congruence with changing times. "Today, the success of a jeweller is determined not by the number of showrooms he owns but by the services he offers—personal attention mixed with a corporate attitude. Only then can their business find a place in the market," says Sacheti, who is incorporating both the aspects into his business. "A corporate environment helps you build inventories, create customer databases, fulfil expectations and requirements while keeping tabs on new trends in the market," he says positively. Explaining the importance of a personalised service, Sacheti says that many brands get stuck with a corporate attitude and fail to meet customer requirements. "Such brands only get customers looking for corporate gifts for festive occasions," he emphasises. For Sacheti, every individual in his family is involved in the business—right from his wife, sons and daughter-in-laws. "When my wife is not in the store, customers always ask "Where is bhabhiji? This is because she personally attends to every customer and they know that she will give them the correct advice." As he reveals the reason for entering the jewellery business, you can hear the excitement in his voice rising. "When I finished my degree, I had three options—become a full-time engineer, enter service industry or take the family's legacy forward," says Sacheti, whose ancestors have been in the business for 700 years. "And in comparison to all the other fields, according to me, the outcome in the jewellery business is better and quicker." This held true for Sacheti, which is why his sons followed suit looking at his success in the business. "After graduation, both my sons and daughter-in-laws studied jewellery professionally from the States," he says proudly. With his sons completely involved in the business, Sacheti says that being in the loop with latest technology and value added services became easy. "My sons entered the online industry and founded the site 'CaratLane', which is currently one of the biggest jewellery e-commerce websites in India. From loose diamonds to delicate pieces, we trade everything online internationally," says Sacheti proudly. "You'd be surprised that even in a small village called Pushkar near Ajmer, which has a population of approximately 30,000, people are buying jewellery online!" Talking about the jewellery offered at his store, Sacheti tells us that as a brand they have two strong points-design and in-house manufacturing. "Earlier, certain jewellery was liked by certain kind of people. For example, the Parsis loved their pearls and plain gold was popular in South India, and the Gujarati's and Marwadi's preferred polki, so on and so forth. But nowadays, these traditions are mixing and everybody is willing to experiment," he says. Another important offering that Jaipur Gems provides, is the in-house manufacturing. "In our store, the quality of the stones we use is unique, of the highest standard. Even in the market, a valuer will look at the piece and know that it's from Jaipur Gems. We have maintained this standard for years," says Sacheti. At 65, with his sons getting involved in the business, one asks Sacheti if he soon plans on taking it easy. He laughs and says, "That's a tricky question but as far as retirement is concerned, that time will come. But one can't retire immediately, it's a slow process." He personally feels that if a person is physically healthy and has the right attitude, then they should continue working. His eyes light up with a hint of sheen, when he starts talking about his passion—classical music. "I don't sing or play, but I love listening to classical music. And I wanted to convert it into something substantial," says Sacheti, who turned his passion into philanthropy. "Annually, I conduct a programme at Nehru Centre with the help of renowned artists. Two artists, one upcoming and the other a senior artist perform at these programmes," he says, adding that these functions are free for connoisseurs. But Sacheti thought he wasn't doing enough and thus started offering scholarships to aspiring classical music students. Apart from this, Sacheti also offers a Lifetime Achievement award annually to felicitate senior artists. "Public figures like Dr. Karan Singh, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, and Morari Bapuji have felicitated these senior artists," he says proudly. Strong family support has encouraged Sacheti to organise these events. "My family is very co-operative and has supported me in all my endeavours. They help and guide me and that is the reason I have been able to do everything," says Sacheti. A goldsmith and diamantaire, Sacheti holds on to his roots and offers his customers jewellery that he knows and understands from the back of his hand. And with a story so compelling, one can only be curious as to what the future holds for a brand that has been passionate about jewellery for hundreds of years.