Gem of a business

"Jewelry designs are meant to be timeless and suit the lifestyle of busy, sophisticated and elegant women the world over,” declares Michigan resident Havovi Rutton­sha Khanna, owner of My Jewells, the new initiative that she has ventured into after spending years in the education field.

"Making jewelry has become a true passion for me and is truly different from anything I have ever done before. I feel I have a strong current of the entrepreneurial spirit flowing through me which I am pretty sure I got from my grandparents and definitely my parents Mani and Jal E. Ruttonsha who were all successful business people,” notes Khanna in her e-mail response to Parsiana’s queries.

Explaining the genesis of her business venture Khanna wrote, "Like many women I love and have a fascination for jewelry! I was making jewelry for the past few years for myself after taking some jewelry making classes.” So what started as a hobby turned into a profession. When her friends saw her wearing exquisite jewelry they would invariably ask her where she had picked up the piece and on learning that she had created it would instantly say, "Make me one of the same.” Obliging many such friends, Khanna notes, "I have to honestly say that the inspiration to start my business came from my family and friends.” With her reputation spreading through word-of-mouth she has now started selling at galleries in Ann Arbor, Michigan and hopes to expand to her birthplace, Bombay, and elsewhere.

Above: Havovi Ruttonsha Khanna with her hand-crafted designs

"I make all my pieces myself at my home studio. I use a lot of freshwater pearls from China, Swarovski crystals and semi-precious stones mainly from India. The stones are either hand wire wrapped or strung on sterling silver chains or gold filled chains,” mentions Khanna. The inspiration for her designs comes from many cultures and their master artisans — from the vibrant and colorful gem markets of Bombay to the youthful and lively streets of Ann Arbor, notes the website myjewellsonline.com

The array of artistic jewelry displayed on her website comes in the price range of $ 35 to upwards of $ 300, states the owner. Twenty percent of the net proceeds from the sales will be donated to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation whose mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications. "Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that strikes children and adults suddenly, and can be fatal,” explains Wikipedia. "This is a cause very close to our hearts,” states the website myjewellsonline.com

On completing her schooling in Bombay, the businesswoman earned a degree in teaching from London and settled in USA after marriage. While raising her two sons Jahan and Sharuk (now in college, studying engineering), Khanna worked in the local elementary school district in many capacities. Having always been involved with teaching children, she adds, "I have enjoyed that a lot but now am ready to move in another direction.”