Instant Charm: Celebrating New Creations with Karina Choudhrie Jewels

Recently, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with London-based jeweller Karina Choudhrie, who had so much newness to present it was hard to know where to start. There's the whimsy and playfulness of Big Splash Circus, the beautiful wearability of the Icon collection, and a plethora of new high jewels, all of which encapsulate her signature joyfulness. I always associate Karina with a world of fine jewellery excitement, where rigid rules and outdated notions of 'formality' don't apply. She's a designer who can offer a twist on the classics, like her refreshed tennis-style Magic bracelet, while also presenting us with a gem-encrusted starfish riding a unicycle! Let's take a closer look at the latest pieces that have emerged from Karina's incredible imagination… 

My first deep dive into Karina Choudhrie's artistry was in 2022 when I dedicated an article to her debut high jewellery collection, Under The Sea. This Mumbai-born and Dubai-raised jeweller has a real knack for blending gorgeous gemstones and fine materials with whimsical, symbolic characters – talismans if you like – that tap into the wearer's inner child. Her jewellery is serious in terms of its construction and craftsmanship, yet it is unserious in that it presents us with juggling octopuses and hula-hooping turtles. Her Karina Choudhrie Jewels brand has something for everyone, though, such as the ready-to-wear Icon and Vitamin Pink collections that are a perfect accompaniment to daily dressing. People who visit her London-based private atelier are in safe hands, whether they want something understated or more daring… that's where Karina Choudhrie's power lies. 

Ahead of this year's Couture Show in Las Vegas, I heard from Karina that she was preparing to debut several new pieces, including expansions to her fine jewellery collections and a new selection of high jewels. It's safe to say that I had to find out more and photograph some of my favourites. The one that really caught my eye was Big Splash Circus – a high jewellery offering that has been more than 10 years in the making. I had heard this name before, as Karina told me about a children's book she had authored in 2020, also called Big Splash Circus, about a colourful cast of underwater characters entertaining under the big top. Now, these characters have been brought to life, although the process was far from easy. 

The complete collection includes 12 unique underwater characters, although only six have been launched in 2025: the Dolphin, jellyfish, lanternfish, seahorse, starfish and turtle. The remaining critters will be presented in 2026, so there's more to look forward to. Each one is available in three variations – an entry-level piece, a mid-tier option, and a full pavé luxury version – and can be worn clipped onto gold chains, silk cords, multi-sapphire chains or beaded chains. I am told that creating each of these variations took six years of planning, modelling, and refining. Karina jokes that she has piles of boxes in her office with long-forgotten models, including a starfish that simply didn't look cheeky or playful enough in the beginning. She sent this character study back to her craftspeople, who sent about hand-carving another version in wax (yes, that's right, no CAD has been used in Big Splash Circus) until they achieved the perfect facial expression. 

My highlights include the full pavé version of the Lantern Fish charm, with diamonds, rubies and sapphires in 18k yellow gold, as well as the 3D sculptural Dolphin charm, also with diamonds, rubies and sapphires in 18k gold. I also like the Outline Jellyfish charm, with sapphire cabochon juggling balls and an openwork, diamond-set jellyfish set in 18k rose gold. What I most admire is that each character has a back story: the seahorse is a girl, whereas the turtle is a boy. "The lantern fish is the star of the show," Karina tells me, "because he's not the most beautiful fish in the ocean with his big teeth; he looks scary, and I thought sometimes people judge a book by its cover." Elsewhere, the turtle is athletic, although he doesn't have the music or dancing skills like other characters, while the seahorse is beautiful, elegant and chic (which you can see in her fluttery precious metal eyelashes)

It's hard not to fall in love with the cast of the Big Splash Circus, but if such creations are not to your taste, let's talk about Karina's ready-to-wear treats. The Icon collection immediately springs to mind because of its recognisable ampersand-inspired motif, dusted with diamonds and set in white, rose and yellow gold. There have been some great new additions for 2025, including the Art Deco-inspired Icon Rock line with octagonal carved rock crystal stud earrings. This material has been given a matte finish to contrast beautifully with faceted diamonds and coloured stones, notably amethyst, emerald, black onyx and black spinel. 

Karina tells me: "I wanted to update the Icon and reinterpret it into a bolder, more meaningful statement. I can't wait for our clients to experience the Icon Rock and feel its transformative, feminine power–something we built our brand on."

Also noteworthy is the atelier's Magic bracelet. This is Karina's take on the classic tennis bracelet with a stretchy and comfortable design that incorporates the octagonal shape present throughout the Icon collection. It's also a great unisex piece, and I have a feeling that couples may find themselves fighting over who gets to wear the Magic bracelet on special occasions. Finally, I can't forget the Icon Wish line, which is inspired by the classical architecture and geometry of central London. These are some of the most minimal pieces in the Karina Choudhrie collection, whilst still incorporating the looping Icon motif and following the brand's commitment to high-quality craftsmanship. You can choose from yellow and white gold, as well as a selection of coloured gemstone line bracelets.

Although my conversation with Karina focused on Big Splash Circus and Icon, there are updates to the Vitamin Pink collection and a new set of high jewels – an expansion of Under the Sea – to devour. Perhaps we will take a closer look at these in the future! I hope this has inspired you to learn more and, most importantly, rediscover your inner child with a colourful cast of precious characters.