We’ve all been there — scrolling through social media, spotting a stunning design, and thinking, “This is amazing, I could do something with this.” Maybe you even screenshot it for later. That moment of admiration is totally normal, and yes, it’s how creativity often works — one spark leads to another.

But here’s the tricky part: when does inspiration cross the line into imitation? There’s a difference between being creatively influenced and replicating someone else’s hard work. The quote “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” may sound nice, but in design, it’s also a fast track to losing your credibility.

This issue is especially relevant in the Indian jewellery market, a diverse ecosystem that includes couture artisans, mass-market retailers, and indie designers — all coexisting alongside a booming imitation market. When original designs are copied and mass-produced, it damages the brand identity of the creator, dilutes the uniqueness of their work, and erodes the value of true craftsmanship.

Being inspired is natural — but respecting originality is essential.

Let us have a look at what ace Jewellery Designers/ Brands from the industry have to say about Plagiarsim & Inspiration in jewellery designs:

Avama Jewellers

Abhishek Kajaria, Founder and Owner

1. How do you identify and cultivate your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) as a jewelry designer in a market full of competition?

At our luxury jewelry brand, our Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is rooted in innovative craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of our clients’ desires. We push the boundaries of design while staying true to our brand’s aesthetic..

 2. What steps can designers take to ensure they are drawing from a broad range of influences rather than just one or two sources, in order to create more original and diverse designs?

To create original and diverse designs, we encourage our designers to draw inspiration from various sources, including art, architecture, nature, and cultural heritage. We also foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing among our team members, which helps to stimulate creativity and innovation.

3. What to do if your jewellery design is being copied? What are the legal implications to such plagiarism?

If we find our jewelry design is being copied, we promptly protect our rights by sending a cease-and-desist notice, seeking legal advice, or taking other actions to stop the infringement.

 4. In your experience, how does acknowledging the influence of other designers in your work contribute to your growth as a designer, and how do you ensure that your own originality still shines through?

Recognizing the influence of other designers is vital for our growth. By acknowledging their contributions, we can learn from their experiences and create something original. We maintain our uniqueness by staying true to our brand’s vision and aesthetic.

    Mahabir Danwar Jewellers – Vijay Soni, Director

1. How do you identify and cultivate your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) as a jewelry designer in a market full of competition?

 At Mahabir Danwar Jewellers, our USP lies in the fusion of heritage craftsmanship, innovative design, and exclusivity. We stay true to our brand ethos—blending timeless elegance with modern creativity. Through research, trend awareness, and our signature design language, we ensure every collection tells a unique story and evokes a personal connection, setting us apart in a crowded market.

• What steps can designers take to ensure they are drawing from a broad range of influences to create original and diverse designs?

 Originality comes from exploring beyond the obvious. Designers should:

 • Draw from varied sources like architecture, nature, and fine arts
 • Study global and historical craftsmanship
 • Experiment with new materials and techniques
 • Avoid trend-chasing and focus on building a personal voice
 By broadening their creative lens, designers can avoid unintentional imitation and develop truly distinct designs.

• What to do if your jewelry design is being copied? What are the legal implications of such plagiarism?

 To protect designs:

 • Register copyrights, trademarks, or design patents
 • Take legal action, such as sending cease-and-desist notices
 • Document the design process for proof of originality
 • Raise awareness through industry platforms
 Proactive protection is key to preserving exclusivity and creative ownership.

• How does acknowledging the influence of other designers help your growth while maintaining originality?

 Acknowledging others’ work promotes learning and innovation. However, we ensure originality by:

 • Using inspiration as a base, not a blueprint
 • Infusing personal storytelling and brand identity
 • Innovating through design, materials, and craftsmanship
 • Continuously evolving our creative voice
 Respecting influence while transforming it ensures our work stays authentic and uniquely ours.

Neeta Boochra Jewellery

Neeta Boochra, Founder

1)What steps can designers take to ensure they are drawing from a broad range of influences rather than just one or two sources, in order to create more original and diverse designs?

Indian jewellery designers have access to a vast and layered cultural heritage, but relying too heavily on a few well-known motifs (like Mughal, temple, or tribal jewellery) can limit innovation. To ensure originality and a broader creative palette, Indian designers can take the following India-specific steps to diversify their influences and evolve their design language:

Explore Regional Diversity: Study lesser-known jewellery traditions from Northeast India, tribal areas, and rural crafts like Dokra, Bastar, or Manipuri designs.

Blend Tradition with Contemporary Indian Art: Take inspiration from modern Indian artists, textile patterns, or architectural forms like stepwells or temple carvings.

Use Indian Literature & Philosophy: Draw abstract concepts from epics, folktales, and philosophies (Hindu, Buddhist, Sufi) to deepen your narrative.

Tap into Natural and Urban Landscapes: Let India’s diverse geography and cityscapes inspire shapes, textures, and forms.

Reimagine Obscure Historical Styles: Revive and reinterpret jewellery from lesser-known dynasties or rare styles like Chettinad or Satavahana-era adornments.

Collaborate Across Crafts: Work with artisans from weaving, embroidery, pottery, or painting to bring fresh perspectives and techniques.

2.            What to do if your jewellery design is being copied? What are the legal implications to such plagiarism?

If your jewellery design is being copied in India, you do have legal recourse, though the process depends on how you’ve protected your design. Here’s what you can do, along with the relevant legal implications under Indian law:

Collect Evidence

• Gather proof of your original design: sketches, CAD files, timestamps, emails, product photos, and public release dates.
• Take screenshots and purchase records of the copied designs for comparison.

Send a Legal Notice

• Through a lawyer, send a cease and desist notice to the infringing party demanding they stop production/sale immediately.

Take Civil or Criminal Action

• Civil remedies: You can seek injunctions, monetary damages, and destruction of copied goods.

3.            In your experience, how does acknowledging the influence of other designers in your work contribute to your growth as a designer, and how do you ensure that your own originality still shines through?

Acknowledging the influence of other designers is not only a mark of integrity but also a powerful tool for personal growth

Promotes Humility and Learning: Recognizing others’ impact keeps you open to learning. It reminds you that design is a dialogue, not a solo performance.

Builds Deeper Understanding: When you consciously study and credit a designer’s work, you often uncover why it resonates with you—materials, philosophy, structure—helping you better refine your own preferences and style.

As men’s fashion continues to evolve, jewelry has become an increasingly expressive and essential accessory for the modern man. Here are  best men’s jewelry brands that reflect the shift from simple, utilitarian pieces to bold, trend-forward designs.

From timeless chains and signet rings to unique, sculptural, and even nature-inspired creations, this guide caters to all styles—whether minimalist, avant-garde, or vintage-inspired. Brands like Mejuri, Tom Wood, and David Yurman, offer elevated everyday essentials, while Bleue Burnham, Shaun Leane, Tabayer and Emanuele Bicocchi bring a more artistic and edgy flair. Meanwhile, designers such as Luis Morais, Healers, and Bond Hardware infuse their creations with fun, spirituality, and industrial innovation.

Key Highlights:

• Affordable Classics: Brands like Mejuri, Quince, and Jaxxon offer accessible, stylish pieces—perfect for building a foundational collection.

• Luxury & Designer Picks: David Yurman, Gucci, John Hardy, and Hermès bring high-end craftsmanship and iconic design to standout accessories.

• Unique & Artistic: Alighieri, UNOde50, and Konstantino provide expressive, handcrafted pieces with distinctive, often organic designs.

• Streetwear & Edge: Hatton Labs and Tom Wood blend contemporary aesthetics with street-inspired flair, offering bold rings and earrings.

• Functional & Masculine: Fossil, Caputo & Co., and Miansai are praised for their rugged yet stylish bracelets and leather accents.

• Sustainable & Ethical: John Hardy and Quince emphasize reclaimed materials and fair pricing, appealing to conscious consumers.

This  guide serves both as a style resource and a gift guide, suggesting pieces for every kind of man—from trend-forward dressers to those looking for timeless investment pieces.

Amidst the theatrical fashion and glittering jewels at the Met Gala 2025, watches proved they were more than just timekeepers—they were style statements in their own right. As VIP guests made their way through the exhibition (timed perfectly before dinner), their wristwear added a sophisticated punch to their red-carpet ensembles.

This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” paid homage to the legacy of Black dandyism, celebrating a sharp, bold, and elegant aesthetic. The timepieces on display matched that spirit flawlessly.Luxury giants like Cartier, Omega, and Jaeger-LeCoultre were spotted on countless wrists, but one standout moment belonged to Bollywood royalty. Shah Rukh Khan, making his Met Gala debut, turned heads in a dazzling high complication Patek Philippe, perfectly in tune with the evening’s

Shah Rukh Khan in Patek Philippe 

Making his highly-anticipated MET Gala debut, Shah Rukh Khan dazzled with an event and stature-appropriate timepiece. Because SRK tops the hierarchy of movie superstars, in the same way, Patek Philippe tops the hierarchy of haute horology. Khan didn’t just wear any Patek – he wore a Grand Complication Minute Repeater Perpetual Calendar (in rose gold) whose current market value is estimated at under $2 million (Rs 16 crore). A minute repeater is considered to be one of the most intricate and hard-to-build complications out there, add to it an equally complex perpetual calendar movement and you have a watch that’s as rare as the star wearing it.

Features of the Patek Philippe Grande Complication – 5304/301R:

• Case: 43 mm, rose gold case with white gold decorative inserts
• Dial: Transparent sapphire
• Movement Type: Self-winding mechanical
• Water Resistance: Not water-resistant
• Strap: Black leather
• Functions:
  • Perpetual calendar
  • Displays date, day, month, and leap year

Maluma in Jacob & Co.
Colombian singer Maluma wore a one-of-a-kind Emerald Billionaire III timepiece valued at $5 million. The 18k white gold case and bracelet, case frame, bridges, inner ring and bracelet are set with emeralds. The watch is powered by the manual skeleton tourbillon JCAM39 movement.

Maluma’s bejewelled watch is the Jacob & Co. Emerald Billionaire III, a 53x43mm white gold watch and bracelet adorned with 714 emerald-cut emeralds, totaling 147 carats. It features a skeleton tourbillon movement with a 72-hour power reserve.

Key Features:

• Style: A bold, refined creation described as a “vision of refined power and design”

• Case & Bracelet: 53×43 mm white gold, set with 714 natural, no-oil, emerald-cut emeralds
• Jewels: Totaling 147 carats of emeralds
• Movement: Skeleton tourbillon
• Power Reserve: 72 hours

Diljit Dosanjh in Cartier

Diljit Dosanjh embraced his Punjabi Heritage and paid homage to the former Maharaja of Patiala, primarily by adorning a lot of jewellery. In keeping with the royal theme, Dosanjh wore a Panthère de Cartier small model watch in 18k rose gold, affixed to a Faune et Flore de Cartier bracelet in 18k yellow gold with emeralds, yellow, orange, and brown diamonds. The Panthère de Cartier is a watch truly worthy of royalty. A refined wrist ornament, modest in size (the only thing modest about it) crafted from a warm-toned precious metal, quietly speaks of lasting style and accuracy. It’s rectangular housing—neither too large nor too small—shimmers with delicately set clear stones. The face catches light subtly, its metallic hands shaped like miniature blades.

Features of the Panthère de Cartier Watch – WJPN0062 are mentioned below:

• Case: 30.3 mm x 22.0 mm, rose gold
• Dial: 172 brilliant-cut diamond
• Movement Type: Quartz
• Water Resistance: 3 bar (approx. 30 meters)
• Bracelet: Rose gold
• Function: Minutes & Hours

Jeff Goldblum in Jacob & Co.

Jeff Goldblum donned the Ashoka Boutique Watch valued at $1.2 million. The 18k white gold case and bracelet are paved with 60.09 carats of Ashoka cut diamonds. Another 3.20 carats of Ashoka Cut diamonds cover the dial.

Features of the Jacob & Co. Slender Ashoka Diamond Boutique Watch – 92148952 are mentioned below:

• Case: 17cm, 18k white gold (diamonds)
• Dial: 16 Ashoka diamonds
• Movement Type: Quartz
• Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
• Water Resistance: 30 m (3 atm)
• Bracelet: 18k white gold
• Functions: Hours and Minutes

Usher in Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto Jewellery
Usher turned heads at the MET Gala 2025 watch spotting scene wearing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto Jewellery – Q336247J. This masterpiece features a reversible rose gold case, diamond-set bezel, and two elegant dials—one silvered grey, the other black. Its Art Deco design and high-jewellery detailing added pure sophistication to Usher’s red-carpet presence.

Features of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso One Duetto Jewellery – Q336247J are mentioned below:

• Power Reserve: Approx. 50 hrs
• Case: 40 x 20 mm, Pink Gold (18 carats case)
• Recto Dial: Arabic numerals, Silvered grey, Guilloché and Sunray-brushed
• Verso Dial: Baton hour-markers, Black, lacquered
• Movement Type: Manual winding
• Water Resistance: 3 bar (30 m)
• Strap: Black