SUNITA SHEKHAWAT
Founder
Born in Osian, Jodhpur, Sunita developed a natural connection to art and design in a land steeped in history. As the daughter of a defence officer, her childhood was shaped by travel across the country, immersing her in India’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and hues. These are the elements that now define the essence of her label.
Sunita discovered the ideal place to manifest her vision in the Pink City of Jaipur, the bustling centre of gemstones and jewellery. Here, the House of Sunita Shekhawat was established as a tribute to artistry, legacy, and innovation. With unmatched expertise in gemmology, centuries-old techniques, and materials, Sunita possesses a rare and profound mastery of jewellery-making.
Sunita Shekhawat’s journey into the world of fine jewellery began like the opening lines of a timeless tale rooted in tradition yet destined to be reimagined. Her formal education at the Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery (IIGJ) laid the foundation. Still, her natural affinity for gemstones and her deep respect for heritage shaped her vision. She wasn’t just studying jewellery but discovering a way to give ancient artistry a voice in the modern world.
For Sunita, creativity has always walked hand-in-hand with expertise. She immersed herself in the study of techniques, materials, and colours, each a thread in the intricate tapestry of her craft. Her designs became more than jewellery with every step they became expressions of Jaipur’s spirit, reframed for today. Her creations, infused with the essence of traditional enamel (Meenakari) art, carry the city’s heartbeat while echoing her contemporary sensibilities.
But her artistry goes beyond aesthetic brilliance. Sunita’s designs are thoughtfully versatile, reversible, detachable, and endlessly wearable. She took the storied beauty of uncut diamonds and infused them with a new vitality, breathing life into a centuries-old craft. This modern reinterpretation of Jaipur’s enamel (Meenakari) work earned her the title ‘The Modern Meenakar’, reflecting her role as both a custodian and innovator of tradition.
Through her work, Sunita Shekhawat weaves a poetic narrative where heritage and modernity coexist, where every piece tells a story of timeless art reimagined for the present. Her creations are not just jewellery but a bridge between Jaipur’s storied past and its bright future.
For Sunita Shekhawat, the craft of jewellery-making is a living tradition. Sunita creates work inspired by the vibrant culture of India, reflected in her designs of enamel (Meenakari), diamonds, and natural gemstones sparkling in different tones. Each design provides a narrative, carrying on the history of craftsmanship with an appropriate sense of modernity.
The stories behind each piece she creates are of renewed heritage, a tradition that meets innovation. Her precise approach to gemstones, materials, and techniques brings authenticity to her rare creations, the practicality of modern design and the soul of ancient craftsmanship.
Like Jaipur itself, her jewellery vibrates with colour, texture, and spirit. Her distinctive designs and pioneering vision have established her as a leader in the jewellery world, redefining what it means to honour the past while creating for the future.
“Great design starts with expertise” — Sunita Shekhawat. Focusing on techniques, materials, and colours, she has developed a design lexicon that is genuinely unique and anchored in craftsmanship. Fusing Jaipur’s artistic traditions with her jewels, Sunita has positioned herself as a modern torchbearer, seamlessly uniting heritage and contemporary elegance.
Unlike most established jewellers, Sunita did not inherit a family business. A first-generation jeweller, she entered a male-dominated industry with determination and vision. Hers is a story of endurance, one that has transformed a craftswoman into a designer, reimagining what a woman-led jewellery line can do.
A landmark event in 1999 was the opening of the Sunita Shekhawat boutique in Jaipur, attended by Rajmata Gayatri Devi herself, who became a brand patron. This moment solidified Sunita’s position as a pioneer in high jewellery.
Inspired by the colourful heritage of Rajasthan, our jewellery narrates the story of eternal elegance. At its core, it honours colour—by way of enamel (Meenakari) and gemstones selected to evoke a sense of heritage.
Enamel (Meenakari) is one of the world’s oldest craft forms, combining deep, vibrant colours with pure 24-carat gold, creating delicate but permanent details. Such a process demands unmatched knowledge and a refined sense of colour blending, so each piece becomes a work of art focused on flawless arrangement.
In Jaipur, the gem capital of the world, Sunita continues to discover the rare stones that will bring her imagination to fruition.
A decade later, the House of Sunita Shekhawat has become a thriving, family-run heritage house. As Niharika and Digvijay Shekhawat walked in their mother’s shoes, the brand effortlessly stitched its Jaipur-inspired craftsmanship into a global tapestry. They created a bridge between the traditional and the contemporary, bringing Rajasthan to the world.
The idea they share has also opened a fabulous new chapter—a joyful new one—the Museum of Meenakari Heritage (MOMH) in Jaipur, India’s first jewellery museum dedicated solely to the exquisite craft of enamel (Meenakari). A labour of love, it gives this delicately fine art form a breath of fresh air, preserving the waft of heritage with the spark of modernity for times to come.
The Shekhawat family’s devotion to innovation and tradition will ensure that this treasured art will continue to inspire for generations. The timeless House of Sunita Shekhawat overflows with love, reminding us that heritage never withers when watered with tenderness and imagination.
