New Delhi, Oct. 19 -- As the season of sparkle approaches, it's only fitting that jewellery and its age-old relationship with Diwali come to mind. Beyond mere ornamentation, jewellery in India symbolises wealth, prosperity and good fortune.

Indians have long been patrons of international jewellery houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Boucheron, which were favourites of the maharajas, and, in turn, India has been a rich source of inspiration for these maisons. Cartier drew upon the opulence of Islamic and Mughal India for some of its most coveted collections.

The Tutti Frutti style, now commonly used by jewellers worldwide, originated from Cartier's multi-coloured gems set as berries, leaves and flowers, which were referred to ...