by Zanita Careem

Your family has been in the jewellery business for generations. Tell us about where the journey began.

We’re a second generation jewellery company who have been in the business for the past three decades. We’re from Kandy and that’s where our headquarters are based. We have been able to build our business to where it is now through the hard work of my parents, and my sister and I joining the business 12 years ago.

What does Tiesh specialise in?

We’re family-owned and family-run. We specialise in sapphires, diamonds, and locally sourced gemstones. Two decades on from our inception, we’ve broadened our horizons with the launch of Pure Gold by Tiesh which caters to the 22kt gold and bridal market of Sri Lanka.

How would you describe your style of jewellery and the audience it caters to?

Our style of jewellery is unique in that we have a limited number of original pieces in every collection and only replicate designs upon the request of clients who want a custom masterpiece created just for them. We create jewellery for women and men alike who have eclectic taste and an appreciation for the finer things in life.

What are Tiesh’s plans for the future?

We’re looking towards expanding Tiesh overseas as well as locally as we launched Tiesh in just 2013 and Pure Gold by Tiesh in 2021. As Sri Lanka’s economy is on an upward trajectory, we’re excited to see what prospects the local tourism market bring our industry in the year ahead.

Is fashion jewellery unique to Tiesh? What have you learned from building the brand from scratch?

We only specialise in precious metals i.e. silver and gold, and use exclusively precious and semiprecious Sri Lankan stones. Our biggest learning has been the amount of hard work it takes to start from humble beginnings to grow a brand that commands the respect and admiration from its clientele through superior customer service and the finest jewellery you can find in the country.

Your X’mas collection is a hit every year. Tell us a little bit about it.

We launch a Christmas collection every year with something special for our long-standing clients. We actually held a Christmas soiree at our Colombo showroom on the 9th of December where we launched our seasonal collection for 2022. It was well-received as we had multiple cocktail collections this time around that featured different kts of gold semi-precious stones and Mother of Gold. We experimented with 9kt gold as this is a trend gaining popularity around the world. Our focus with our last collection was making sure there was something for everyone, at every price point.

From where did Tiesh began, how far do you think the brand has come, since then?

Tiesh’s talented artisans are behind the designs you see by Tiesh. And of course, we, as a family, scrutinise each and every piece to ensure it’s up to the high standards our clients have come to expect from us. Since we launched Tiesh in 2013, we’ve evolved in leaps and bounds and are a fashion staple- something our clients will testify to.

Diamonds feature heavily in your latest seasonal collection. What inspired you to incorporate them?

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Always have been, always will be. The allure of diamonds never fades and we know that they are especially sought after during Christmas with the many events, cocktails, galas taking place. For this reason, we absolutely had to centre our collection around diamonds!

If you could sum up your X’mas collection in just a few words, what would they be ?

Eclectic. Bold. Brilliant. Unique. Accessible. This sums it up.

Who would you most like to see wearing you jewellery?

I would love to see leading international celebrities in Hollywood, Bollywood and other international markets wearing Tiesh designs, eventually.

Do you have a treasured item in your personal jewellery collection?

My most treasured item is something I was gifted on my wedding day that my staff gave me. It’s a pair of white-gold cufflinks that were painstakingly designed and crafted by them. It means a lot to me primarily because of the sentimental value and thought behind it.

Does Tiesh have any jeweller for men?

Contrary to popular belief, men are even more discerning clients than women. We have everything from lapel pins, to cufflinks, and even rings and of course, are able to customise jewellery upon request which is an aspect of our service most appreciated by our male clientele.

cate designs upon the request of clients who want a custom masterpiece created just for them.

What next for Tiesh?

We’re looking towards expanding Tiesh overseas as well as locally as we launched Tiesh in just 2013 and Pure Gold by Tiesh in 2021. As Sri Lanka’s economy is on an upward trajectory, we’re excited to see what prospects the local tourism market bring our industry in the year ahead.

Are you into fashion jewellery too? What have you learned building a brand from scratch?

We only specialise in precious metals i.e. silver and gold, and use exclusively precious and semiprecious Sri Lankan stones. Our biggest learning has been the amount of hard work it takes to start from humble beginnings to grow a brand that commands the respect and admiration from its clientele through superior customer service and the finest jewellery you can find in the country.

How do you describe your X’mas or seasonal brand?

We launch a Christmas collection every year with something special for our long-standing clients. We actually held a Christmas soiree at our Colombo showroom on the 9th of December where we launched our seasonal collection for 2022. It was well-received as we had multiple cocktail collections this time around that featured different kts of gold semi-precious stones and Mother of Gold. We experimented with 9kt gold as this is a trend gaining popularity around the world. Our focus with our last collection was making sure there was something for everyone, at every price point.

Are you in a very different place from when you designed the first jewel for Tiesh?

Tiesh’s talented artisans are behind the designs you see by Tiesh. And of course, we, as a family, scrutinise each and every piece to ensure it’s up to the high standards our clients have come to expect from us. Since we launched Tiesh in 2013, we’ve evolved in leaps and bounds and are a fashion staple- something our clients will testify to.

Diamonds are big in this collection. What inspired you to open up this exciting way?

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. Always have been, always will be. The allure of diamonds never fades and we know that they are especially sought after during Christmas with the many events, cocktails, galas taking place. For this reason, we absolutely had to centre our collection around diamonds!

How could you sum up your collection in just a few words, what would it be?

Eclectic. Bold. Brilliant. Unique. Accessible. That about sums it up.

Who would you most like to see wearing your jewellery?

I would love to see leading international celebrities in Hollywood, Bollywood and other international markets wearing our jewellery.

Do you have a treasured item in your personal jewellery collection?

My most treasured item is something I was gifted on my wedding day that my staff gave me. It’s a pair of white-gold cufflinks that were painstakingly designed and crafted by them. It means a lot to me primarily because of the sentimental value and thought behind it.

Do you have jewellery for men?

Contrary to popular belief, men are even more discerning clients than women. We have everything from lapel pins, to cufflinks, and even rings and of course, are able to customise jewellery upon request which is an aspect of our service most appreciated by our male clientele.