Burmese rubies, basra pearls and rubellites the size of peaches: Hyderabad’s best-dressed women gave Vogue an exclusive look at their heirloom jewellery

“Heirlooms aren’t just tangible jewellery, it’s more about the story and the people around the pieces,” says Manasa Thakur Reddy, a beauty entrepreneur based in Hyderabad. The beauty of heirlooms lies in their timelessness, a reminder of our nanis and dadis who came before us and those who will come after.

Ahead of the Vogue Wedding Atelier presented by HSBC, the first Editor’s High Tea event was co-hosted by Rochelle Pinto, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue India, and Sudha Reddy, philanthropist, at the latter’s home in Hyderabad. A gathering of tastemakers and fashion enthusiasts took place at Mon Amour Palais—a soirée space created by Reddy in her abode.

Conversations about heirlooms and tales passed through generations during weddings and family affairs continued through the afternoon. Ahead, we deep dive into some of the standout pieces adorned by Hyderabad’s best-dressed women.

Rochelle Pinto, Bobby Kandhari and Sudha Reddy

Bobby Kandhari, entrepreneur and personal stylist, wore a gold statement necklace from her in-laws. “During the partition, an individual gave this to my father-in-law in lieu of a debt he was owed. Its origins are still unknown,” revealed Kandhari. She preserved it with its unpolished edges and broken parts and wears it with pride today. At the event, she wore the vintage necklace with an emerald ring, a wedding present from her mother, who received it as a present at her wedding decades before.

It’s during weddings, when so many heirloom pieces are made, switching hands from grandmother to mother, mother to daughter, a reminder of heritage, of family, of love. In a look that brought together the women in her family, Archana Rao, fashion and costume designer, styled her mother’s diamond wedding choker “with my grandmother’s gold chandraharam (multi-tiered necklace) and my mother-in-law’s burgundy clutch. So they’re all here with me in spirit,” she explained.