Diamonds for dogs: Meet the jeweller who created this €755,000 dog necklace

It positive is an efficient time to be the canine of a wealthy proprietor, because the consumption of luxurious and designer pet merchandise has seen a major increase lately. 

These days it's extremely uncommon to return throughout a world designer model which is not promoting a line of pet associated merchandise - from Gucci's €1,750 pet bowls to Louis Vuitton's €2,816 canine carriers, pet dad and mom are actually seeking to maintain their pooches pampered. 

So, for those who your self occur to be available in the market for a luxurious diamond collar to your furry good friend, then Nathalie Knauf, the founding father of Knauf Jewelry and Soho Poms, a luxurious canine shampoo and accent model, is your girl. 

She has not too long ago been displaying off her newest lavish fee - a flawless diamond doggy necklace that includes a paraíba tourmaline pear-shaped pendant, valued at a staggering €755,000! 

Apart from her enterprise life, Knauf helps the work of a number of canines' charities and he or she not too long ago grew to become a proud ambassador for the Kennel Membership Charitable Belief. 

Euronews Tradition caught up with the London-based canine entrepreneur to debate the position canines have performed all through her life and the ins and outs of her work.

Credit: Soho Pops (Instagram)
Nathalie Knauf pictured with considered one of her canines (L)Credit score: Soho Pops (Instagram)

Canines have all the time performed an necessary half all through your life. In reality, your fondness for all of them began from a dramatic incident in your childhood?

Sure, I used to be raised with Italian Mastiffs and once I was three years previous myself, my father and my grandmother went on a stroll. I used to be operating a bit within the fields and choosing flowers. As we had been strolling a bicycle got here by, grabbed me and left. 

My father realising what had occurred did not know what to do, so instructed the canine to catch the bicycle. Fortunately the canine understood what was happening and commenced operating after the bicycle. You'll be able to think about these canines are fairly heavy so when it jumped on the bicycle all the pieces went flying. I used to be flying, the bike owner was flying and the bicycle was damaged. 

By the point my father arrived the bike owner mentioned 'I assumed the kid was misplaced and ran away'. So it was undoubtedly a kidnapping try so I am very fortunate to nonetheless be right here. My father solely instructed my mom concerning the incident three years later as a result of he was so shocked himself. 

What number of canines do you at present personal?

I've 11 canines in the mean time. 11 Pomeranians, which I name the Soho Poms. 

Soho Poms can also be the title of your bespoke small canine attire and equipment firm. How did this concept for this model come about?

The thought actually began organically once I began to purchase a variety of merchandise for my canines. Leashes, harnesses, winter coats and beds and so on... Nevertheless a variety of the merchandise broke just about after I purchased them which upset me as a result of for those who do that funding for 11 canines there may be some huge cash concerned. 

So then I mentioned effectively perhaps I can do that higher. So I began to create. I additionally got here up with a shampoo which is superb for canines' fur and undercoat. 

In the meanwhile we're concentrating extra on small to mid sized canines, however subsequent yr we'll put extra emphasis on the wants of larger canines. 

Qualifying as an financial analyst, you later stop the world of finance and went on to launch Knauf Jewels together with your husband in 2011. How did you first get into the jewelry enterprise?

Initially I used to be working in finance so I had nothing to do with jewelry. However I all the time liked the jewelry assortment of my grandmother and I used to be fascinated by it. 

Later I received married and my husband began creating jewelry himself, which he would ship to household and buddies. It began as a pastime for him however he began to understand he was promoting fairly a couple of, so he requested me if I wished to hitch him on that undertaking. 

So I then mentioned okay however I might want to study it and perceive what it's. I left my job and I went again to check gemmology for 3 years, whereas additionally build up the corporate. Now I create 60% of all the pieces we achieve this I'm fully concerned. 

You had been not too long ago commissioned by a consumer to make a diamond canine necklace price €650,000?

Sure, I used to be requested to already do a undertaking earlier than from a consumer in London who wished one thing to match their very own necklaces and earrings. So I introduced the thought ahead and created this piece myself. 

In fact it is a luxurious however luxurious for some folks has no limits. It's undoubtedly the costliest canine merchandise I've ever made. Even I do not personal jewelry that costly myself. 

Credit: Sam Dibley
Nathalie Knauf and her canine Pom Polly carrying the £650,000 diamond and paraiba chokerCredit score: Sam Dibley

The place do you discover essentially the most fulfilment in your work?

Whether or not it is jewelry or canine equipment, or now diamond for canines - I believe what's most satisfying is that if I see folks carrying and utilizing my creations, and getting good suggestions. 

'Oh I used your shampoo it was superb, we liked it. I additionally used it on my hair. Can I purchase one other bottle?'. 

I believe that is essentially the most satisfying. I believe it is the worst for those who purchase one thing and it simply will get uncared for in a nook someplace. I believe that is unhappy. 

You are now an envoy for the Kennel Membership Charitable Belief and have dedicated to gifting and elevating £100,000 to assist fund its welfare initiatives - what work do they do?

They do charity to attempt to assist totally different tasks. A few of them can be for canines residing on the road, others for pet farming or to assist canines which are utilized in laboratories. So I'm glad and honoured to assist this good trigger. 

Percentages of all of my gross sales are going in direction of the charity. It is a collaboration we're persevering with. 

I am unable to be extra proud to assist this as a result of people can converse up for themselves when one thing is incorrect however animals cannot. And I believe because of this they want all our assist. 

What do you hope to realize sooner or later?

I actually need to push ahead my Soho Poms firm and simply to have it develop and develop. We would like it to be the one cease store to go for all the pieces regarding canines and likewise people, corresponding to beautiful leggings you want within the morning to stroll your canines. We need to turn into the Amazon of the canine world.

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