House of Meraki: Each emerald is individual, and this uniqueness fascinates me

To say that House of Meraki is a jewellery brand that celebrates emeralds unlike any other is somewhat of an understatement. Suffice to say, the umbrella term ‘jewellery brand’ hardly does justice to the all-encompassing jewellery service that Gargi Rathi and her dedicated team of emerald and jewellery experts provide…

Exceptional levels of skill, craftsmanship and intellectual process are behind every individual step of the jewellery making process at the House of Meraki. Firstly, the sustainable gemstone mines Kagem and Kamakanga in Zambia – as well the Colombian Muzo mine – are the only sources which the jewellery house use to provide their emeralds. From there, the lapidary work is crafted in Jaipur by cutters who took years to perfect their lapidary skills. Next, the design element of the creation is taken care of by the in-house design team in London, which is then brought to fruition by a family of Italian master craftsmen who have previously worked for some of the most famous and celebrated jewellery houses in the world.

When I recently met the House of Meraki’s Founder and Creative Director Gargi Rathi at her London showroom, I was keen to find out the inspiration behind the company, the history behind her illustrious moniker ‘The Emerald Lady,’ and how it came to be that she created the first emerald focused fine jewellery brand in the world.

GR: My obsession with them began at an early age. Later in life, I started to study the chemistry behind the green tones within gemmology, and to explore every facet these romantic stones have to offer. Each emerald is individual – no two are exactly the same – and it is this uniqueness that has fascinated me.

GR: Emeralds from both regions hold exceptional chemical composition and provenance. If the design aesthetic were more contemporary, I would use Zambian emeralds, as that’s what’s trending right now! But if the requirement were for something more classic, I would lean towards Colombian stones.

GR: Evolution is key to staying relevant. House of Meraki was built upon the belief that every woman should be able to go out and buy a piece of jewellery that is an investment, on her own.

GR: I was inspired when I saw a void in the market within this fairly unorganised sector. It is of the greatest importance that each emerald is procured with the correct sensibility, and then mounted into an aesthetic that retains an investment value, and lastly is converted into an asset that requires the correct aftercare.

Offering everything from bespoke jewellery design, to unique high jewellery pieces with investment-grade emeralds to ready-to-wear affordable lines, and even jewellery asset management, the House of Meraki seems to defy conventional definition within the fine jewellery industry.