Stories
From Beads to Royalty: C. Krishniah Chetty's 155-Year Journey of Adaptation
M
Moneycontrol•04-10-2026, 09:27
From Beads to Royalty: C. Krishniah Chetty's 155-Year Journey of Adaptation
- •C. Krishniah Chetty, founded in 1869, evolved from selling colored beads on a bicycle to serving 21 royal families, including the Maharaja of Mysore.
- •The family-run jewelry business, now in its sixth generation, navigated challenges like succession crises and adapted to changing customer tastes and technology.
- •Early expansion included importing clocks and watches, alongside crafting gold, diamond jewelry, and silverware, inspired by British jewelers.
- •Key to its longevity was a small family size, minimizing conflicts, and the guidance of experienced senior employees during critical transitions.
- •The company embraced innovation with an in-house gemological lab, laser engraving, 3D printing, and a thriving digital commerce division handling thousands of consignments monthly.
Key Questions Answered
Cotha Krishniah Chetty started the business in Bengaluru in 1869 by selling coloured beads from a bicycle before it evolved into a multi-generational family-run enterprise.
When senior members from the second and third generations passed away between 1954 and 1955, the fourth-generation brothers took over with the critical guidance of highly disciplined, ethical senior employees who helped manage the transition and train the next generation.
In 1986, the fifth generation established an in-house gemological laboratory using imported testing equipment, and the company has since incorporated lasers, 3D printers, modern casting equipment, lab-grown diamonds, and a digital retail division.
