With eleven different stone rings (everything from yellow sapphire to big white rocks) on his ten fingers, it doesn’t take long to realise that Upendra Kumar Sharma is the Managing Director of the newly opened Solitaire Boutique Suryansh. Kumar looked dapper in a beige Prada suit and his Rolex Daytona. His boutique in South-Ex II will be exclusive.
“There isn’t much demand for solitaires anywhere else in India apart from Delhi and that’s why I plan to open solitaire stores in Japan, New York and London in the months to come. We plan to open on Bond Street,” says Kumar.
Now one would really have to loosen their purse strings to shop at this high-end boutique where the solitaires range from a steep price of Rs 22 lakh. And that clearly defines a niche clientele but as Kumar says, “I am here to sell quality and that can’t be sold below this particular price as we get most of these rocks from Belgium, South Africa, New York and Israel.” And that’s why the store has opted for a strict policy of meeting their clients by appointment only. “We are not an educational institute for educating people about solitaires and that’s why we are going to be strict about walk-ins,” says Kumar.
Interestingly Kumar is more than content with his store as he has already sold a few pieces of the 55-carat cushion cut diamonds in the past two days. Born and bought up in Delhi, Kumar who decided to join his fathers business straight after school tried his luck as a garment exporter before venturing into the diamond business.
“It’s just been three months since I seriously got into it after a two month course from The Gemological Institute of America,” concludes Kumar.
One look at these big carats and you’ll realise that they are rocks to die for, but as they all say diamonds are a girl’s best friends! And all good things in life come for a price!