Jewellery

The One That Makes Everyone Shine - Indian Jewelry

Picture this: You are standing in front of the mirror, wearing an ethnic outfit, makeup is to the point and so is the hair. Now it's time to open the box of Indian jewelry. There are several pieces in it, each a different island speaking its language.

The ornate jhumkas amplify the facial beauty; the maang tikka and matha patti are equivalent to tiaras in Indian jewellery; the deeply detailed chokers and necklace instantly make you feel like a member of a royal dynasty; heavy metallic bangles that enhance the feminine allure. As you rummage fondly through it, you find plenty of diamante rings set in gold or silver. The oxidized nose rings and whimsical toe rings also caressed your fingers somehow.

You carefully select from each category and adorn them gently to the designated part of your body. As you wear each piece, your natural beauty intensifies. The final effect is spellbinding.

India is a country with many vibrant cultures, each having its own stunning designs, cuts, and motifs. Any Indian apparel that you wear is incomplete without traditional jewelry. Let us dive today in the exciting and decadent world of Indian jewelry, so that you can choose the right ones for the next event you go to.

Classic Indian Jewelry Styles

In every jewelry store you go to, you can see the lavish pieces behind the glass doors and counters. Their dazzle and finishing are astonishing. Every piece looks different from one another but you might not know the names of the techniques through which they are made. In this section, we will cover the popular methods so that you can ask for your preferred ones confidently at your next store visit.

Kundan, Polki and Jadau:

These three terms might feel confusing. Kundan Jewellery and Polki Jewelry are often used interchangeably but there is a difference between them. Kundan literally means ‘pure gold’. The process includes carefully setting sliced glass and gemstones at the base of a highly refined pure gold foil. Along with sliced glasses, precious stones or semi-precious stones are also inserted. Kundan jewellery is believed to have originated from the royal courts of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Polki is an uncut or unpolished diamond, therefore in its most natural form. These uncut diamonds are held together by a gold foil. Polki traces its origin to the Mughal era. Due to its unpolished or raw look, Polki is preferred to exude an old-world or bygone era. On the other hand Kundan is preferred for a modern and sophisticated look.

The word Jadau comes from the root word ‘jad’ which means to embed or lodge. Whether artists are creating Kundan or Polki ornaments, both are held together in a piece by the process of Jadau. Kundan and Polki jewellery are staples of an Indian bride’s trousseau due to their utterly luxurious look.

Meenakari Jewellery:

Also called enameling, Meenakari involves making beautiful designs by coloring metal with vivid colors. From brass and copper to silver and gold, meenakari can be done on many metals. Popular designs include figurines of flora, fauna, animals, gods and goddesses. This originally Persian art is quite popular in Indian jewelry. The designs are made so precisely that they look like miniature paintings.

There are two well-known kinds of meenakari art - Ek rang khula and Panchrangi. As the name suggests, Ek rang khula uses one color to create the jewelry while Panchrangi uses five colors to do the same. The colors used for Panchrangi are white, dark blue, pale blue, red and dark green. The cool and warm colors when used on one piece creates a visually fascinating treat to admire and wear. Meenakari jewelry is perfect when you are adorning a multicolored outfit. If you are bored of your western spring/summer jewellery, you can swap those with the meenakari ones.

Oxidized Jewellery:

One of the biggest trends in jewellery today is oxidized jewellery. Also commonly known as silver junk jewellery, the silver ornaments are deliberately made to look a bit dull. This makes the jewelry look antique yet sophisticated. One of the trendiest varieties today is Afghan-style jewellery. This oxidised jewelry kind also has eye-catching colored stones embedded on the ornaments. Besides silver junk jewelry, golden junk jewellery is fast becoming a trend. The golden ornaments are also made to look a bit dated to give them an old-world charm. Oxidised jewellery is great to wear at traditional occasions or cultural events.

Tribal Jewellery:

As India is a land of ethnic diversity, beautiful Indian jewellery comes from different states and tribes. The tribal jewelry primarily focuses on the pride and identity of the particular tribe. Bastar, Banjara, Wacho, Bhutia, Himachali, Santhal are some of the tribes well-known for their jewelry designs. What makes them distinct is that unlike previously mentioned jewellery types, they are not made from precious stones or fine metals. They are mainly made from materials such as thread, iron, leather, copper, oxidized silver and wood.

The tribal pieces are often inspired by nature and have down-to-earth motifs such as leaves, flowers, feathers and shells can be seen. Because they are made from the aforementioned materials, they are categorized in imitation jewellery, also known as artificial jewelry. Beads and colored stones are also added in many designs for a pop of color. Due to its admirable rustic looks, brands have started to produce tribal jewellery for urban wearers. You can wear tribal jewelry during a vacation, a brunch invite or a family meet-up to add a dash of bohemian charm to your ensemble.

Temple Jewellery:

Native to the southern states of India, temple jewelry was initially made to adorn the deities of the temples during processions or rituals. The south Indian Jewellery was inspired by the majestic temples of these states. They are generally made of gold as the metal is deemed worthy and pure for the deities. In contemporary times, south Indian women wear this jewelry on important occasions such as New Year’s and weddings.

The primary motifs in temple jewelry are gods and goddesses namely Lakshmi, Ganesh and Krishna. Besides them, motifs of animals, flowers, plants, or geometric patterns are also moulded in the jewelry. They also sport emeralds, pearls, and other precious stones. Temple jewellery is perfect to wear at any festival or traditional occasion as they give you an ethnic look effortlessly.

Imitation Jewellery:

Besides imitation, it is also known as fashion jewellery’. With the advent of rising costs of ornaments, imitation jewelry gained immense popularity. They are adorned with glass, cubic zirconia, Swarovski crystals or other synthetic gems. Fashion jewellery mimics the design of precious gemstones and fine metals and allows the wearer to try new trends in a budget-friendly manner. Imitation jewellery is great to wear in grand occasions such as weddings, traditional ceremonies and festivals.

Another type of jewelry that can be added to this category is artificial jewellery. This kind of jewelry is made from base metals, plastic, resin, wood and other materials. As the materials used to make them easy to wear, easy to maintain and cost-effective. Artificial jewellery come in a wide range of colors and styles, making them immensely versatile. They can be your best bet to wear at parties, get-togethers or small functions.

Pearl Jewellery:

If there is one type of Indian jewelry that denotes timeless sophistication, it is pearl jewelry. Mostly preferred by royal Indian women, pearl necklaces are chosen by them. The pearl’s serene appearance makes the wearer look classy and mature. Today, people choose to wear pearl jewelry on formal occasions. Pearl studs are the go-to for office wear. At dinner parties, pearl ornaments are coupled with diamond pieces. Pearl jewellery today comes in both Indian and Western designs.

Wedding Jewellery:

Wearing jewellery as a wedding guest might feel confusing. You would want to look your best but at the same time not upstage the bride. The trick to ace it is to follow ‘less is more’. You can wear one piece that gives a fashion statement yet looks harmonious with your overall outfit. A heavy choker, an ornate maang tikka or an intricate pair of jhumkas can work wonders. Keep the rest of your jewellery minimal too with either a pair of bangles, a couple of rings or a haathphool.

Bridal Jewelry - A Special Mention

It is impossible to mention jewellery types and not dive into the lavish world of bridal jewellery. Bridal jewellery is mostly made of gold as it is considered to be auspicious for the upcoming day. In India, gold signified the prosperity and wealth of the family. The bridal Indian jewellery is not only to make the bride look ethereally gorgeous on her big day. Each piece of jewellery has a significance attached to it. Without further ado, let us dive into the same.

Jewellery From Head to Neck

Earrings:

After head jewellery, comes the earrings. The bride can opt for various kinds of jhumkas and chandbalis. Jhumkas has an encrusted stud and a dangling bell-shaped piece. Chandbali literally translates into moon earring. As the name gives clue, the earrings have a dangling crescent moon design. Earrings are considered to a protective charm against evil spirits.

Maangtikka:

These gorgeous jewellery pieces are an adornment for the head. Maangtikka is a pendant attached with a single ornate chain. This chain has a hook which is to be fastened in such a way that the pendant sits right in front of the middle parting of the hair. Another kind of head jewelery is Mathapatti. It is a bit similar to maangtikka but also has two more chains at the right and left side attached to the pendant. These pieces are said to represent the union of bride and groom. The significance is even more as the groom puts sindoor or vermillion on the middle parting of the bride’s hair.

Necklaces:

On a wedding day, all eyes are on the necklaces that the bride wears. They have to be chosen carefully as they can make or break the look. During earlier times, only gold necklaces were worn as they symbolized opulence. In today’s times, brides are opting for diamond, kundan, polki or multi-stone necklaces. A bride wear’s necklaces both from her maiden home as well as her would-be marital home. This symbolizes the union of the two families.

Nath:

The name means nose ring in Hindi. In bridal jewellery, the nose ring signifies the bride’s marital commitment to the groom. For an aesthetic value, the bride’s nath has a chain that is attached to the hair. This gives the bride a stunningly royal look. The nose ring itself could be encrusted with polki, kundan or small pearls.

Mangalsutra:

The most important piece in the bridal jewellery is mangalsutra. It is a chain swathed with black beads. The black beads are said to symbolize protection and strength. The mangalsutra itself is considered to be a sacred thread that ties the husband and wife together till death does them part. There are various designs available for it based on the culture and tradition of the Indian states.

Adornments For The Hands

Haath phools:

Literally translates to hand flowers, these are ornaments for the back of your hands. It consists of a ring attached to a chain and fastened to a bracelet. It can also have a more decorated design with three rings attached to more chains, forming a web-like pattern. Haathphools make the bride look graceful and a symbol of affluence of the family. The designs can be in gold, kundan, diamond or polki.

Bangles:

Bangles are considered to be a symbol of a married woman or ‘saubhagya’. For the wedding day, the bride needs to wear red colored bangles along with the ornate metal ones. Red is the color of love and marriage in Indian culture. In other states, other colors such as green bangles are worn that symbolizes fertility. A married woman’s wrists need to have bangles as barren hands are considered inauspicious.

Final Touch - Feet Ornaments

Anklets:

Also known as ‘payal’ or ‘painjan’ in Hindi. Anklets are for adorning the feet. These are the ornaments to be worn around the ankles. They can be either plain or embellished, though brides opt for the latter for their wedding day. The embellished ones can be studded with pearls or multicolored stones. Anklets signifies the marital status of the women as well as the bride being the bearer of good luck to the groom’s family.

Toe Rings:

Toe Rings are worn on the second toes of the feet by married women. They are known by various names in India, namely Bichiya in Hindi, Mettelu in Telugu, Metti in Tamil, Kal-ungura in Kannada, and many others. You can choose simple metallic designs or bejeweled toe rings, depending on your style. Some of the popular ones are available in oxidized silver, silver, diamond and gold.

Shop Scintillating Indian Jewelry Online At Mirraw

After exploring the vast and alluring choices of jewelry India has, you must be tempted to buy Indian jewelry online! Mirraw has amazing and regal options in Indian Jewelry sucha as Kundan and Polki jewelry and also temple jewelry online. If you are someone who loves fuss-free yet appealing ornaments, you can also do online shopping for imitation jewellery and artificial jewellery at Mirraw. Besides these online indian jewellery types, we have the popular meenakari jewelry and tribal jewellery. You can buy the oxidized and pearl Indian jewellery online with Mirraw.

With customizable filters, budget-friendly prices and seamless delivery, Indian jewelry online shopping becomes the easiest with us. We provide free shipping to Indian customers and fast shipping internationally.

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