INTERVIEW: Siddharth Kasliwal. Gem Palace Scion and India's Most Eligible Bachelor.

If the handsome face, big brown eyes, or perfectly tousled mane doesn’t melt you, then being led by the hand—by private appointment of course—into a legendary palace of rare and precious gems will. Emily Jerome, of Latest Revival, flawlessly describes Siddharth Kasliwal’s splendid inheritance, “The Gem Palace in Jaipur, India is like a mythical setting for a James Bond heist. Uncut rubies cascade from cheesecloth bags, as if a dime a dozen. Sapphires, diamonds, emeralds—the size of golf balls—flood the show tables, begging to glisten on a body part. Antique rings open to reveal wells once filled with poison. Diamonds encrusted into glittering turtles form a clutch purse.” What girl’s heart wouldn’t skip a beat?

Twenty-nine-year-old Siddharth, India’s most eligible bachelor, has come by that title rightly. His late father, Munnu Kasliwal, was described a few years ago in a New York Times article by Guy Trebay as, “A Favorite Jeweler of Connoisseurs … Collected by European royals, Italian designers, Arab sheiks, international society queens and the merely moneyed, who could find his designs for sale at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Neue Galerie in Manhattan as well as at Barneys New York. Mr. Kasliwal’s baubles were also particular favorites of celebrities …” Princess Diana, Mick Jagger, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton are just a few notable names that have entered the sacred establishment. For the June 2004 cover of Vogue, Nicole Kidman, photographed by Irving Penn, wore a double-strand diamond Gem Palace necklace.
 

 

 

 

So who is this young scion of a two-hundred-year-old dynasty, where his family has served as the official jeweler to Maharajas and Maharanis? A man with such a foretold destiny, that he was named after the founder of Buddhism; and today is ranked alongside the likes of Prince Harry, Andrew Lauren, and Scott Eastwood, as one of Town & Country magazine’s 50 top bachelors …  

The University of Bombay graduate, described by a childhood friend as “a fun-loving, hard-working social animal” is everything you would expect and nothing you would. His polished accent is a mix of native dialect and the Queen’s English. His manners and air are high-born. He is a man that speaks as if he is often heard and rarely interrupted. Yet, his infectious love of nature, humble appreciation of simple pleasures, and genuine passion for life, are the elements that warm and connect you to this surprisingly gentle spirit. “I love my work and I put all my heart and passion into it, and in the evenings I usually see my friends and enjoy good food and have an amazing time. I think that describes me best.” 

Since the passing of his father, needless to say, Siddharth has had large shoes to fill. In the private design studio on the second floor of the atelier, where he works, a large picture of Munnu hangs against the backdrop of a white wall. The picture is candid. He is looking up, with a soft smile, from his work. His presence still warms the room. “I pretty much do everything from traveling to different countries to buy stones, organizing shows in various museums (we have a show at the Kremlin Museum, Moscow this coming April), handling sourcing and production, dealing with stone brokers and craftsmen, to designing and selling to our illustrious client list.”  

 

 

Yet, Siddharth successfully balances his work life with his other passions. “I am obsessed with golf. I play five times a week, in the mornings, at a nearby golf course. When I am in Jaipur, I try to take advantage of that luxury, since it’s not that easy in New York City to do that. Also, I like to spend time with my horses and ride once or twice a week. Photography is another great passion. I love taking pictures of rural India, and forts and palaces in Rajasthan.” 

If you ever have the pleasure of sitting in Siddharth’s kitchen, the spicy and eclectic aromas of traditional Indian cooking, along with Sufi music playing lightly in the background, are soothing and transporting. “I enjoy cooking. I am a vegetarian and when I travel abroad that food does not come easy. The Indian kitchen is so rich and allows for a variety of recipes.”  

What better time than after a few dirty martinis with Bombay Sapphire (Sid’s favorite drink), to ask this most eligible bachelor who his celebrity crush is? I sit back assuredly, waiting to hear the usual list: Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Jessica Alba, Kerry Washington, etc. I am smitten when he announces, “Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. She was one of the most beautiful and elegant women that I have ever come across.” If you’re not familiar with this timeless royal beauty, who bore a striking resemblance to screen actress Bette Davis, she was once named one of the “Ten Most Beautiful Women in the World” by Vogue magazine. Born in 1919, she was the third Maharani of Jaipur, from 1939–1970 through her marriage to HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II.  

 

Along with a globally revered legacy, which combines art, history, luxury and legend, Siddharth’s father also passed down his care and respect of his employees. “I established the Munnu Kasliwal Charitable Trust on the first anniversary of my father’s passing. I believe charity begins at home. Over 100 employees and craftsmen (many multi-generational) now have medical insurance (which is a real problem in India, as you can imagine). It also insures them in times of emergency, and supports the education and futures of their children. My father, myself and our family, love our employees and consider them as part of our family, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to live a safer and more secure life.” 

As India’s beloved bachelor will soon be leaving his twenties behind, turning thirty this summer, he looks forward to celebrating in Marrakech with his closest friends. I am curious, of course, if he’ll be accompanied by a “special” friend—a lady friend, that is. I decide not to ask. Yet, I hope any girl who one day catches this amazing man understands the true legacy of the Gem Palace, Munnu Kasliwal and the Kasliwal family. “We come and go, but the jewelry lasts forever.” –Siddharth Kasliwal

www.gempalacejaipur.com

 

Photos courtesy of Siddharth Kasliwal.