The festive season has kicked off in Jaipur, and few people are probably as busy as Gauravi Kumari. The Jaipur native’s sprawling home, City Palace, which was built by her ancestor Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727, is one of the most coveted destinations for a Diwali celebration, and snagging an invite to one of the exclusive events being hosted there this season is a point of pride for many in the business. Since Kumari is the new face of diamond jewellery house Forevermark’s latest festive campaign, it made sense for the announcement to take place within the Palace’s sprawling grounds. There was a fashion show spotlighting the brand’s latest jewellery pieces, an experiential space where guests could discover the journey of a diamond, and a DJ to close the night at Sarvato Bhadra, the ceremonial pavilion at the heart of the property.
Kumari was there in a custom Jade sari and jewels from Forevermark’s ‘Icon’ collection. Her older brother, Padmanabh Singh aka Pacho, was also declared the face of De Beers the same night, and the pair have been responsible for a slew of initiatives that have made Jaipur a hub for all things cool and cultural. Take for example The PDKF Store, a brand that’s giving Jaipur block-prints a Gen Z twist and which Kumari started in her capacity as the general secretary of the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation. She has also curated The Palace Atelier, a must-visit on any Jaipur itinerary, and has been the face of brands like Jimmy Choo and Kama Ayurveda. We caught up with Kumari to talk about what’s in her jewel box, her fashion role models, what she loves about the festive season, and the book she can’t put down right now.
What time do you normally go to bed?
I take my sleep very seriously. So, around 11 or 11:30 pm. I need to get a good eight hours.
In the morning, are you a coffee or a tea person?
Neither. I don’t have coffee or tea, just some hot water in the morning. I used to need two coffees to start my day but not anymore.
What about exercise?
I go to the gym in the morning. We have one gym at home that we set up during Covid and that the whole family uses now.
Do you sleep with your jewellery on?
Just my staples—a pair of everyday earrings, a bracelets on each of my wrists, and one really thin necklace that’s very simple. These pieces are just on me at all times. When I get up, the first thing I put on is my mom’s watch, an Omega that I stole from her.
Are all of these heirlooms?
Not all, but the special ones are the bracelets from my grandmom. They’re simple gold ones with small diamonds that she gave me a couple of years ago.
Does she often give you jewellery?
All my memories with jewellery are related to my grandmother, because before every event or festival I go to her room and we decide what I’m going to wear.
Was she your fashion role model growing up?
Yes, absolutely. She is always the most fashionable and she used to design her own jewellery as well; she’d draw unusual pieces and get them made by a jeweller. I would talk to her about things like jewellery settings, gemstones, and the process of getting her pieces made.
What are you wearing for the Forevermark announcement?
A custom sari by Jade and this beautiful necklace from the Forevermark ‘Icon’ collection. The necklace is really doing most of the talking in this look.
How would you describe your approach to wearing jewellery?
I like stacking, especially rings, but I would still describe myself as a minimalist, since I veer towards daintier pieces.
It’s the start of the festive season in Jaipur. How do you kick-start the celebrations?
Diwali is the first big festival we celebrate, but, really, in Jaipur we have a festival almost every month. There’s Teej in July, Gangor in April, Holi in March, and so on. So, we always have something or the other going on. And we have different dress codes for different festivals. So, for Diwali we wear darker colours—blue or black—whereas everywhere else in the country you wear light colours.
You grew up with two brothers. Has that affected your approach to jewellery or fashion?
Both my brothers have great style and I’m always taking their advice before an event. I know that they’re the only ones who will be dead honest with me, even if that means being too blunt. Growing up I would always steal my brothers’ clothes—oversized T-shirts, hoodies, and stuff.
With clothes, you’re happy mixing traditional and contemporary. What about when it comes to jewellery?
I’m not really so experimental when it comes to jewellery. I like to stick to the classics—Indian jewellery with Indian clothes and contemporary jewellery with contemporary clothes.
After the Scandi scarf and the Kolhapuri, is there a piece of Indian jewellery that you think international brands will try and adopt next?
All of it, really, but maybe the maang tika? It’s so elegant. Even a nice nath (nose ring) can be really cool. I remember I got my first nose piercing when I was in boarding school—I think I was 11 years old—and my entire nose swelled up. Later I got it re-pierced when I was 18. I had always seen my mom with her nose piercing, so I really wanted it.
What’s one thing you recommend guests do or see when they’re visiting City Palace?
The museum is beautiful and we’re in the middle of redoing the textile gallery, which is going to launch in November. So, that will be worth a visit. And of course, do visit both my stores—The PDKF Store and The Palace Atelier.
After the announcement. What’s your bedtime routine looking like?
I would say first skincare. I love doing a face mask. After that read my book and go to bed.
What are you reading right now?
I am reading Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. It’s this chaotic family drama, and even though I just started it I’m really invested.
Lastly, what does tomorrow look like for you?
I have a lot of events and activities this month, so I’m quite excited for this season. But tomorrow, I guess, I’ll just take it easy, maybe go to work a little bit later, recover.
