The fact that Indian jewelry tradition dates back to thousands of years proves the description of Shakuntala's Indian jewelry by the great poet Kalidasa. It is interesting to note that both men and women of ancient times wore Indian jewelry made of gold, silver, copper, ivory, and precious and semi-precious stones. The description of the Indian jewelry can be found in the great epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata and also in the code of Manu that defines various duties of the goldsmith. As a result of this, India has been a leading exporter of gemstones and even manufactured jewelry.

In India the jewelries act as ornaments made virtually for every part of the body. There are jewelries for the head, hair, ears, neck, wrists, arms, fingers, hips, ankles, and toes. Just name it, they have it. The desire to adorn one's self in these jewelries is to satisfy the thirst to beautify one's self. Nevertheless, the Indian jewelry served also as an identity marker, as security, and as a symbol of social contracts. But for Hindus, their Indian jewelry is associated with many of their religious ceremonies.

There are different regions in India that have their own jewelry making styles that are unique only to them. In Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, they are known for their fine filigree work using silver. Jaipur is known for the art of enameling or meenakari. Temple jewelry can be found in Nagercoil, whereas kundan is a trademark of Delhi. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh are all known for the wide variety of beads they offer.

The Indian jewelry is set with pearls, citrine, amethyst, turquoise, moonstone, peridot, and other stones. The most widely sought after is the diamond. This gem named after a Greek word "Adamas" means unconquerable, suggesting the eternity of love. Thus, diamonds are mostly salable as anniversary gifts, wedding rings, engagement rings, as wedding bands, and so on.

The ability to generate some of the finest designs by the artisans of the past speaks loudly of the unmatched caliber of the artisans. In smaller places, the goldsmith may perform all the processes involved in producing a finished piece. In cities, the different operations are undertaken by separate people-the goldsmith prepares the skeletal framework, the chatera engraves, the kundansaaz or jaria sets the stones, while the meenasaaz enamels it. Today the Indian jewelry has two major trends in the market. The modern look, which is fragile and less ornate and "the back to the Indian look," represented by the old pieces of Moghul and ancient Indian jewelry, or imitations of these in modern mediums. Indian jewelry has even become a passion with most women, especially Indian women as it is an integral part of her life. Though it may not always be made in gold or silver or set with diamonds or other precious stones. Indian jewelry not only preserves its beauty but also increases life!

So what is it about traditional or old Indian jewelry that remains attractive for years, one might wonder! The answer is, "They have shone through to stand the test of time.


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