Indian Jewellery Design

**minisoji** · 07-01-2010, 10:23 AM

Meenakari Jewellery

Minakari or Enamelling is the art of painting, colouring and ornamenting the surface of metals by fusing over brilliant colours that are decorated in an intricate design.

The period of the Mogul era had a great impact on jewelry designs & art of jewelry making in India. The Mogul emperor Shah Jahan invited the Persian artisans who made world famous enameled silver articles to train their master-craftsmen in the art of enameling. For the first time in the history, this famous Persian enameling art was employed into making jewelry artifacts and it marked the beginning of a glorious era of enameled 18kt to 22kt Mogul jewelry pieces. The artisans of the Mogul era combined the sophisticated designs & techniques of the Persian art with Indian motifs & colors to produce some of the finest examples of enameling anywhere in the world. These jewelry pieces had brilliant colored enamel on one side and magnificent hand-cut rose diamonds, rubies, emeralds & sapphires on the other side. Sometimes the exquisite enamel on the reverse rivaled even the beauty of precious diamonds & gems in the front.

Gold has been used traditionally for minakari jewellery as it holds the enamel better, lasts longer and its lustre brings out the colours of the enamels.Silver, a later introduction, is used for artefacts like boxes, bowls, spoons, and art pieces while Copper is used for handicraft items.Choice of colors, in case of silver, has to be green, yellow or blue, as these are the colors which stick with it. As for gold, all the colors can be applied to it and this is also the reason why the metal is preferred for Meenakari jewellery.

The technique of Meenakari requires a high degree of skill and application. The piece of metal on which meenakari is to be done is fixed on a lac stick. Delicate designs of flowers, birds, fish,elephant, lion or peacock head terminals, etc are etched or engraved on it. This leads to the creation of walls or grooves, to hold color. Enamel dust of required color is then poured into the grooves and each color is fired individually. The heat of the furnace melts the color and the coloured liquid gets spread equally into the groove. This process is repeated with each colour.

As each color is individually fired, colors, which are most heat resistant, are applied first, as they are re-fired with each additional color. As a rule, white is the first color applied, and red the last.

After the last color has been fired, the object is cooled and burnished or polished with agate. The depth of the grooves filled with different colors determines the play of light.

The meenakar often works with a team of craftsmen. As meenakari is generally done on the reverse side of kundan jewellery, the meenakar has to work with the goldsmith, the engraver or ghaaria, the designer or chitteria and jadiya who applies the gems on the kundan or gold. The finished produced is a marvel of the expertise of these different craftsmen and their techniques.

Gulabi mina (pink enamel) is derived from gulab (rose) which has been popularly associated with the Varanasi enameling style. Pictures below show a very rare 22kt gold pink enamel elephant Moghul bangle. The two elephants face each other holding the "cup of nectar", the large diamond symbolising the nectar, the "drink of the Gods", believed to sustain life forever. As you can see, the bangle has very intricate carvings on the inside and the outer side which is studded with diamonds.

More Meenakari design

**minisoji** · 07-01-2010, 10:39 AM

Indian Navaratna Jewellery

Navaratna refers to the nine gemstones related to the nine planets used in Vedic astrology. Nava means ‘nine’ and ratna means ‘gem’ in the Sanskrit language. These nine planets are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. (These last two ‘shadowy planets’ of Vedic astrology correspond to the ascending and descending nodes of the Moon respectively).

When only one astrological gemstone is worn, it tends to focus on a particular planet or specific problem. When a setting of gemstones corresponding to the nine planets is worn, it offers extraordinary protection because it can deliver the benefits of all the nine planetary gemstones simultaneously. The Navaratna talisman is designed to ward off negative energies and effects and to strengthen the positive influences that the nine planets and their respective gemstones deliver. One can wear it in expectation of good health, prosperity, increased happiness and peace of mind.

Navaratna jewelry can be made with gems or semi-precious stones. The most important consideration is that the stones being used are flawless. The different categories of stones are not so much related to their value and market appeal but more to their influence on the body and its chemistry, the mind and its psychology, and the electromagnetic field that surrounds a person.

Today Navaratna Jewelry is getting more and more famous because of its Stylish looks and astrological benefits.Navaratnas are considered auspicious and believed to give the wearer Good Health, Prosperity, Happiness and Peace of Mind. It wards off negative energies or malefic effects of Planets and strengthens the positive influences of the gems. All type of navaratna ornaments including necklaces, rings, bracelets, anklets, pendants, bangles, armlets and other trinkets are extremely popular.Navaratna Ornaments can be worn by anyone and does

**minisoji** · 07-02-2010, 06:53 AM

Indian jewellery design

These are some beautiful Indian Jewelry Necklaces made of various gem stones Corals, Pearls, Red stones, Green Stones etc.

**minisoji** · 07-02-2010, 07:10 AM

Traditional Design

Traditional South Indian Style Mango Necklace and Earring with Green, Red and white stone

Traditional South Indian Style Mango Mala and Earring with Green, Red and white stone

Made with Genuine Ruby and Emerald (Shiva & Parvati Pendant)
Necklace and Earring

Peacock Necklace with Genuine Ruby and Emerald

**minisoji** · 07-02-2010, 07:24 AM

Green stone Necklace

Indian Jewelry made with Green and White Stones 16" Long Necklace and Earring Set

Indian Jewelry made with Green and White Stones 16" Long Necklace and Earring Set

Indian Jewelry made with Peridot Color Stones 16" Long Necklace and Earring Set

Indian Jewelry made with Peridot Color Stones and White Stones and Pearls 16" Long Necklace and Earring Set

**minisoji** · 07-02-2010, 10:04 AM

Indian Gemstone Kada Bangles

Ruby and Emerald Color Stone Kada Bangles

Mother of Pearl & White Stone Kada Bangles

WhiteStone Kada Bangles

Blue and White Zircon Kada Bangles

**minisoji** · 07-03-2010, 07:06 AM

Heavy Kundan Sets
These are some beautiful Indian Jewelry Necklaces made of various gem stones Corals, Pearls, Red stones, Green Stones etc.

Kundan in Sanskrit means Gold. One of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India is the 24 carat pure gold Kundan jewellery. Kundan work is a method of gem setting, consisting of inserting gold foil between the stones and it's mount. Kundan jewellery received great patronage during the Mughal era and the most beautiful pieces were created in those times.