1930 — present.
One address. One bench.
Four generations of the Kadel family have worked from the same Jaipur address since 1930. Below is the lineage in chapters — the moments when something material changed, told plainly, without retrospective polish.
96
Years
IV
Generations
01
Address
11
Chapters
1930
1930Gen IFoundingA bench in Gopalji Ka Rasta
The first generation sets up at the address we still occupy today. The bench is built for two karigars and an apprentice. The first work is repair-grade: re-setting heirloom polki for the families of Choura Rasta.
1948
1948Gen IFirst bridal commission
A merchant family from Marwar commissions a full bridal haar — the first complete trousseau the atelier builds end-to-end. Four months of work. The piece is still in the family.
1962
1962Gen IIInheritanceThe second generation inherits
The bench passes to the founder's eldest son. The atelier doubles in size, taking on three more karigars. The first dedicated Meenakar joins the team.
1971
1971Gen IIExpansionDirect sourcing begins
A trip to Ratnapura establishes the first direct relationship with Sri Lankan sapphire cutters. Within a decade, the atelier sources directly from Mogok (ruby), Muzo (emerald), and Pratapgarh (Meena raw materials) — eliminating Mumbai middlemen.
1989
1989Gen IIIInheritanceThe third generation takes the bench
Eldest son of the second-generation owner begins running the day-to-day. Adds Polki specialization and brings Bangkok diamond-cutting relationships into the rotation. Three more karigars hired.
1995
1995Gen IIIFirst international commission
A London-based NRI family commissions a polki set for a wedding in Surrey. White-glove shipping is arranged through a London-based jeweller. The international story begins.
- 2001Gen III
The chemistry begins
Rhodium plating chemistry that the atelier had been mixing in-house is shared with a Jaipur manufacturer. They ask to buy it. We start formulating it in larger batches. The chemicals vertical is born — quietly, as a side practice.
20142014Gen IIIIInheritanceThe fourth generation joins
Two children of the third-generation owner come into the business. They bring formal design training, international travel, and an instinct for storytelling that the atelier had never deliberately practised.
2019
2019Gen IIIIExpansionAtelier expansion
The bench expands to its current capacity — twelve karigars in active rotation, plus the lapidary corner, the Meena bay, and the chemicals lab. The same address. The same building. Eighty-nine years in.
2023
2023Gen IIIIChemicals goes to catalogue
The chemistry the atelier has been formulating for two decades is finally documented as a proper catalogue. Eighty-two SKUs across plating, coatings, stone colours, and finishes. The first international trade order ships to Bangkok.
2026
2026Gen IIIITodayTwo doors, one house
The digital flagship goes live. Atelier and Chemicals share one domain, one tenant in the Blueblood CMS, one customer record, one story. Nothing about the bench has changed.