Temple jewellery :)

[BWeaves]

Fascinating video. Thank you for sharing.

[Parrot Lady]

Several years ago, I went to an exhibition in Paris of “jewels from the great mughals to the maharajas”. The artistry and craftsmanship of everything from jewelry to household items was breathtaking.

[GoldPearl]

Thank you CathyKeshi! If you are in India you are welcome to come home for a nice evening of jewel talk and snacks! Yes Elephants are a common motif in India but this necklace uses them in a way I haven’t seen before earlier or since.

Thank you 86Corvettegirl! Yes please do grab some temple jewellery pieces if you are in India. Kundan and Polki styles are very popular too although I don’t have many pieces of those styles.

[GoldPearl]

Thanks BWeaves. Yes the video does highlight the hard work involved. It gave a me a new appreciation of this type of jewellery making the first time I watched it. It is all handmade.

ParrotLady yes! The traditional jewellery making practices involve great skill. Traditional styles (as opposed to more modern, subtle designs) involve longer skilled handcrafting and have higher making charges. Often only a few select jewellers know the techniques and they specialise in it. For my heritage collection, I have had to source forgotten old designs painstakingly over the years and still am nowhere near having the complete set of every traditional design. I think it will be my lifetime pursuit and my gift to my child and future grandchildren.

[KarinK]

As mentioned, I have only small, dainty pieces but I fell in love with 22K gold and the craftsmanship after visiting Chennai in 2008.

The jewelry stores there are huge! Usually several floors. You get assigned a personal shopper as you enter who carries the tray with what you are considering buying while guiding you to the various floors for what you want to look at. There are no prices on the items but that is not because you can haggle. The price is pr weight given the rate of gold of the day. Once you buy something, your receipt will show the weight, the gram pice, the percentage added for the craftsmanship and how to sell it again. I was fascinated!

This winter I was finally able to buy a bracelet, a thin gold chain and a ring with emeralds. I knew the emeralds were not high quality given what I paid but I had forgotten to consider that setting gems with 22k prongs would not be very sturdy so I have already lost the center stone. I haven't been to India since 2009 but Chicago has a large Indian district and many Indian jewellers so that's where I went shopping.