In conversation with Om and Arpit Prakash
We are delighted to introduce the father and son partnership of Om and Arpit Prakash to our ‘In Conversation With’ series. I have been working with Om for over twenty years now, and as the years have passed, we have experienced many of life’s adventures together. Om elicits a gentle sparkle from each gem, following its individual, organic shape. He now has a team who have learnt his skills and share his respect and understanding for these organic jewels, and together they continue to do a wonderful job.
What is the inspiration behind your unique cuts?
Om and Arpit: Pippa comes to us with new ideas, and we work together to create them. We get our inspiration from nature, natural forms, and formations from natural crystals. We also look at antique pieces of famous diamonds and emeralds; it is interesting to see how they did them so beautifully by hand without the modern technology of today.
How did your relationship with Pippa begin?
Om: We met around the year 2000 through a mutual friend, Shaym, who is a goldsmith in the old city. Shaym brought Pippa to my workshop one day, but I was away, so we arranged to meet at Shaym’s house. We discussed many things: life, family, politics, religion, and culture. Pippa and I got along well, and she asked us to make small cut stones shaped like mangoes and seeds. We started with small orders, and they have grown over the years. In this time, both our lives have changed – marriage, children, recessions, pandemics, but we have always carried on working together.
We started with small orders, and they have grown over the years. In this time, both our lives have changed – marriage, children, recessions, pandemics, but we have always carried on working together.
What is the process of making your favourite piece?
Om and Arpit: Every piece is unique and carved by hand, the final product depends on the character of the stone. It is difficult to choose a favourite piece as each has its own identity. We travel to the Himalayas, to the mines in the mountains, to buy the rough crystals in their natural form. Then, we study the crystal to decide which cut is best suited to it. We have learnt these skills over the years through knowledge from elders being passed down and watching them work. To decide how to cut the stone, we have to understand the different structures of the stone, and how light and colour affect it.
What are some challenges you face?
Om and Arpit: It is hard to find good quality rough stones to cut, and recently it has become increasingly challenging to find materials, there is not an endless supply of stones. It is important for people to understand the rarity of any of the gems; these are not finite materials, but are becoming rarer and harder to find. It can take weeks to collect the materials and identify the right stone to fit each design. It is also a financial gamble, as rough stones are very expensive and when we purchase them we don’t know what is held inside them. Only once we’ve cut into them will we know if there are cracks, internal fractures, or a good lustre and colour. Sometimes we are unlucky, and the value and quality aren’t what we had hoped. Another challenge is finding the same materials and colours for repeat orders, especially as the prices for stones continue to rise in India. Stones are like people, no two are alike.
What do you love about what you do?
Om and Arpit: We love everything about what we do. We are family, and we try to make everyone happy.
What is special about working with your family?
Om: I work with my son and daughter, seeing that they share my passion for this work makes me very happy.
What do you like about working with Pippa Small?
Om and Arpit: When we began our work with Pippa, we were carving large crystal sculptures of gods for the temples. Now, we work with over 50 kinds of gems. We enjoy all of the new ideas she has, and the unusual materials she thinks to work in, like shells or meteorite. Every design is new and exciting, and every collection has a different feel and is unique. We like the way Pippa designs, that she thinks the stone needs to keep its beauty; we have learned from Pippa and evolved our skills.
We like the way Pippa designs, that she thinks the stone needs to keep its beauty, we have learned from Pippa and evolved our skills.
How did you learn your skills?
Om: My father was a farmer, my elder brother was a stone carver and I watched them as a young child. They kept the stones at home where I studied them, and then after school I began to learn stone carving, which I have now been doing for over 40 years.
Om and Arpit: Our challenge is finding young men and women who want to learn how to cut stones by hand. Most of the men working with us have been here for over 20 years. The young don’t have the patience to learn these skills, they want computer jobs, and there are higher levels of education now in Jaipur. We would like to start a teaching program in the countryside for young people who have fewer opportunities in the city, to teach and preserve these skills. We hope they see our success and that it will inspire them to learn.
We would like to start a teaching program in the countryside for young people who have fewer opportunities in the city, to teach and preserve these skills.
