Indian Jewelry - Jewelry in India - Traditional Indian Jewellery

India and jewelry, jewelry and Indian women - the terms are linked inherently. At the time of wedding as well as numerous other occasions, a woman is gifted jewelry by her parents and relatives. Although the gift is meant to give her security in contingency, ornamentation is an obvious purpose. All the cities across the length and width of India have shops of jewelers - some traditional and some modern jewelers, catering to the need of all kinds. Not that the affluent class people wear ornaments, there are low cost jewelry items in ample, which cater the demand of low income group as well.

India houses various kinds of jewelry arts, ranging from Meenakari and Kundan to stone and bead work. The craft of cutting and polishing precious and semi-precious stones and giving them glamorous face is something artistic. Emeralds, rubies, garnets, amethysts, corals, sapphires, and turquoises are among the stones which are used for the enhancement of gold and silver jewelry. Gold jewelry is the most popular among South Indian women. In southern part of India, gold is considered auspicious and a status symbol. Talking about the art on gold jewelry, Kundan is something that comes into our mind.

It is a Mughal-inspired art of setting precious stones like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds in gold and silver jewelry. In Meenakari, enameling is done to protect gold and floral pattern coloured in red, blue and green attracts the attention. Silver jewelry is not far behind in popularity, particularly because of its affordability, making it popular among low income group people. Jhumka, hansli, chokar, nath and bracelets made of silver are quite popular among women in India. In short, the range of jewelry in India is wide as well as varied. Be it gold, silver of diamond, you will find everything in the country.

The jewelry which is not in mainstream production and of which the mode of production is no longer popular is known by the name of 'Antique Jewelry.' This kind of jewelry has dull and rough look, combined with an old world-world charm, and this serves as the major USP of such jewelry.

Bead art in India is five thousand year old and dates back to the time of Indus Valley Civilization. People of that civilization used to make beads out of gold, silver, copper, clay, ivory and even wood. The excavated carried out there came out with finished and unfinished beads from the site.