Bangalore: Stoned Love
CKC’s Diamond Lounge
I was entranced by my grandmum’s nose stud when I was a baby. It glittered when she was angry, glimmered when she laughed. It could be haughty when she was teaching me table-manners, and radiate beauty when she was throwing me up in the air. It’d be years before I knew it was called a diamond. But that didn’t matter: I’d already fallen in love with it.
So when my fiance suggested a trip to C Krishnaiah Chetty & Sons’ exclusive diamond lounge, it was my grandmum who flew into my thoughts. She was with us as the valet took charge of our car and a hostess led us into the 14, 000 sq ft store. I felt her quiver a bit at the array of sparklers all around: Solitaires, coloured diamonds, designer diamonds in rings, pendants, sets and more. At the Tolkowsky section, I thought she listened attentively as the attendant talked us through the old European house’s history and the science of cutting diamonds.
We were looking for a simple engagement ring. At CKC’s though, there’s no discrimination between big-ticket and small: The attendant who served us was knowledgable and well-spoken and guided us gently into making a choice. There’s also the reassurance of the’Ultimate Diamond Certificate’, which can be verified by any authority in the world.
As we tried to make a choice between a square stone and a round one, I felt my grandmum’s presence again. "You’ve already chosen wisely, " I thought she said. And then I heard her laugh, just as when she threw me up in the air and I whooped for joy.
CKC’s Flagship Diamond Jewellery Specialist Store. The Touchstone, 2-1 Main Guard Cross Road, next to Safina Plaza, Bangalore 1. Tel: 40001869. Prices start at Rs 3000 until your pockets drop.