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Archive for the ‘Indian Jewelry’ Category

How much is a gram of gold worth?

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

To find the value of a gram of gold, you must first find the spot price of gold (per troy ounce) in your country, then convert to grams. Thus, if the spot price of gold is 900 US dollars per troy ounce and there are about 31.10 grams in a troy ounce, then the math follows:
$900 x 1 ounce/31.10 grams = $28.94/gram
To find the value of jewelry, you need to know the karats (weight) of actual gold in the jewelry. 24kt gold is the most karats of gold available and this is basically pure gold. 14kt and 18kt are common in the US, while 22kt gold is sold overseas. If you buy an 18kt piece of jewelry, this means that this jewelry is in fact only 75% gold. The remaining 25% is other metals.
So if I have a gram of 18kt gold jewelry, I must multiply price per gram by percent gold to find the actual price in grams. $28.94 x .75 = $21.71/gram. Other factors will also affect the ultimate price, such as workmanship, gemstones, etc.
A gram of gold weighs approx the same as a dollar bill and at today price is valued at $100.

Please check out shopnamaste.com for one gram gold jewelry sets.

By:WikiAnswers

Significance Of Indian Jewelry

Sunday, January 10th, 2010

Indians have been using jewelry for adornment since centuries. The significance of jewelry in the country is evident from the fact that on many auspicious occasions, jewelry forms a part of gifts. Though the trend of men adoring themselves has now faded away, many of them still use earrings, bracelets, pedants, etc. However, it is the Indian women for whom jewelry holds utmost significance. In India, jewelry is considered auspicious for women. Even poorest of poor women will have some kind of jewelry with them.

Jewelry has not only been considered for the purpose of adoration, but also as a security in times of contingency. This is because it is often expensive and can be sold whenever there is dire need of money. This way, jewelry also serves the purpose of insurance, which can be depended upon. Jewelry forms the important part of adoration among Indian women. To accentuate their feminine beauty, they use jewelry made of gold, silver and diamonds. Traditionally, jewelry has always been linked with wealth, power and status.

Talking about the significance of jewelry in the life of women in India, they are gifted jewelry in different phases of life such as, at birth, at coming of age, in marriage, on becoming a mother, etc. Certain ornaments, such as mangalsutra, nath (nose ring) and toe rings, quintessential for married Indian women. From the practice of generations, these gifts are still continuing without any abruption. Jewelry gifted to women at the time of her marriage is called ’stridhan’ i.e. wealth of women, which in short is symbol of wealth, power and femininity.

Jewelry design is so versatile in India that it varies from state to state. If some jewelry is so much popular in one state, it might not necessarily be popular in another state. However, some basic jewelry is common among all the women across India. Bridal jewelry like maangtika, earrings, nose rings, necklace, mangalsutra, bangles, etc make up basic jewelry which adorn women in India. Incidentally, even today, gold is the metal most widely used for bridal ornaments and over the last decade, these are increasingly being studded with diamonds.

Please check out shopnamaste.com for one gram gold jewelry sets.

By: Cultural India

Kundan Jewelry

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

During Mughal period, the art of kundan work reached Rajasthan from Delhi. Later on, craftsmen from the different part of the country migrated to the place and made Rajasthan a hub of Kundankari. Rulers and feudal lords gave patronage to the art and it developed into perfection. Today, Kundankari is known the world over, with Rajasthan serving as its epicenter. Kundankari is basically done on gold and silver jewelry. The beauty of kundan work lies in the precise setting of stones into kundan and the overall look of the ornament.

Traditional kundan jewellery has stones encrusted on one side and colorful and intricate meenakari on the reverse. The entire technique of Kundankari lies in the skillful setting of gems and stones in gold, which is rarely solid. Holes are cut for the gems, engraving is carried out and the pieces are enameled. The core of the ornament is made out of lac, a natural resin. Later, lac is inserted into the hollow parts and is then visible from the front, through the holes left for the gems. Highly refined gold or kundan is used to cover the lac and gems are then pushed into the kundan.

To increase the strength of the joints and to give it a smooth finish, more kundan is applied. Kundankari is such a specialized work that it is carried by a group of craftsmen, each carrying out a specific task. The chiterias make the basic design, the ghaarias are responsible for engraving and making holes, meenakari or enameling is done by the enameller and the goldsmith takes care of the Kundan or gold. The jadiyas or stone setters, set stones such as jade, agate, garnet, emerald, rock crystal, topaz, amethyst, and spinel into kundan.

Please check out shopnamaste.com for exquisite kundan jewelry sets.

By: Cultural India

Gemstones from India

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Jaipur is India’s second important gems and jewellery exporting centre and the first for sales to foreign tourists. With a history dating back to more than two and a half centuries, the famed Indian Gems City of Jaipur is still a hotspot in Gems ‘n’ Jewellery.

From tradition-bound manual processing of colored gems and the manufacture of specialised jewellery like Minakari, the long passage to a modern gems and jewellery sector has been a difficult and rather slow transition, but Jaipur has endeavoured to keep pace with changing times. It has been a double challenge - living up to past glory, while moving ahead in modern times to meet growing global competition. So what Jaipur offers now is actually a glorious synthesis of the ancient and the contemporary.
Jaipur had not only been the main colored gems processing centre of India, but also a global centre because most of the world supply of cut and polished emerald flowed out from this gems city. Besides emeralds, Jaipur has been processing the whole rainbow of colored gems, as well as pearls. The traditional processing work undertaken here with outstanding skill includes cutting and polishing of over a hundred species of colored gemstones, both natural and synthetic, carving, bead-making, stringing, manufacture of objets d’art and fine jewellery. A local Ustad (master cutter) has performed the rare feast of cutting 1400 tiniest emeralds, totally weighing a single carat ! A world record indeed.

Dynamic Generation:
The younger generation has brought dynamic Transformation and internationalism to this sector. Younger gemsmen have taken keen interest in not only modernising manufacturing, but are also concentrating on marketing which has become vitally important in modern business. The traditional jewellers did business at their ‘gaddis’ with mostly their the globe by personal visits, displaying choice goods at international expos and developing new contacts, but have also established branch offices overseas, thereby broadening the horizons of this business. They are actually ambassadors of this beautiful world of gems and jewellery who have crossed the seven seas to spread the message of global cooperation in this fraternity.
Jaipur, which has diversified into modern automatic jewellery making, now has a Jewellery Product Development Centre too which has commenced training jewellery designers. The aim of the GJEPC in founding this much needed facility is to provide trained designers for the city’s developing jewellery industry.
Jaipur already has a Gem Testing Laboratory, which conducts training too, and a regional office of India’s apex body Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council. A gem Industrial Park was also started. The Industrial Development Corporation of Rajasthan has taken it over and proposes to resurrect it.

Modernization:
Lately the most important step Jaipur has taken forward, is modernization of both the gems and jewellery industries. It started manufacturing colored gems in calibrated sizes to meet overseas demand. Ultrasonic machines were inducted into the bead making industry. Semi-automatic production in other sections of the gems sector followed. A very important development in this respect is that today Jaipur is not only using modern machines but is also manufacturing some of them.

Please check out our gemstone collection in our party favors and gifts category at shopnamaste.com

BY: Gemstone Manufacturer

History of Indian Jewelry

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

History of Indian jewellery is as old as the history of the country itself. Around 5000 years ago, the desire to adorn themselves aroused in people, leading to the origin of jewellery. Since then, Indian women and jewellery have gone hand in hand. There cannot be a woman in India, who does not adore herself with minimum jewellery. In fact, jewellery is considered as security and prestige of women in the country. The attraction for jewellery has been great in India that it is no more a craft than an art.

Indian jewellery is unique in its design and workmanship. In all kinds of traditional dance forms, jewellery has been a significant part. Be it Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi or Kathak, all have given importance to jewellery in presenting the artist. The sheer number of items forming the jewelry of an Indian woman is numerous, ranging from earrings and necklaces to pieces for adorning the hair, hip, feet, and feet. Jewelry made with emeralds, diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires and other precious and semi-precious stones have been in practice for long.

The range of jewelry in India varies from religious to purely aesthetic types. It is crafted not only for humans, but also for the Gods, ceremonial elephants and horses. Royal class people have given patronage to the art of jewellery since ancient times, when rajas and maharajas vied with each other to possess the most exquisite and magnificent pieces. Regional differences can be observed in the making of jewellery, depending on the differences in geography, people, culture, and their lifestyle.

While the designs in solid gold jewellery of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are inspired by nature, the Meenakari and Kundan styles of jewelry making have been influenced by the Mughal dynasty. Then there is a huge range of silver beads found all over India, especially in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Their availability lead to the development of the bead jewelry, popular till date.

While Assamese jewellery is influenced by local flora and fauna, Manipuri jewelry-makers make use of items like shells, animal claws, teeth and precious and semi-precious stones. These huge varieties of ornaments bear testimony to the excellent skill of the jewelers and craftspeople of the country. Indian jewelry in Gold, diamonds, silver, sterling silver, precious stones and semi-precious stones is a rage all over the world.

Check out shopnamaste.com for silver based with one gram gold polish jewelry sets for any occassion.

By: Cultural India

Antique Jewelry

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

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. It takes you back to yore era, by its unfinished and dull looks. The jewelry pieces in antique jewelry usually belong to a particular period of history, when its popularity was at its peak.

In India, you can find antique jewelry in numerous forms, like meenakari, kundan work, and so on. Those pieces of antique jewelry that are extremely rare are usually sold at auctions, in antique stores and curio shops. They include the jewelry that belongs to the early period of history. It is this rarity of antique jewelry that makes it so appealing. However, at times, jewelry that is furnished in antique pattern is also given the name of antique jewelry.

Still, those who really value the rarity and exclusivity of antique jewelry, go for the original pieces. Antique jewelry embodies the unadulterated jewelry tradition of the country, in the earlier times, concentrating on ethnic motifs and stones, metal and design. The antique jewelry of India is popular not only within its own territorial boundaries, but also finds favor amongst people belonging to UK, USA and other western countries.

Please check out shopnamaste.com for stunning antique jewelry to match any outfit.

By: Cultural India

Meenakari Jewelry

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

The enamel work done on a metal surface is known as meenakari. The word Meena stands for enamel and the work ‘kari’ is the art.
Meena (enamel) + Kari (the art) = meenakari (art of enameling)
To finish the reverse side of precious jewels, experienced craftsmen would enamel the product with various colors made of natural and treated substances.

Glass and other colored stones are crushed into very fine powder and prepared for enameling. Nowadays, chemicals including cobalt oxide, ferrous salts, copper salts and some other salts are used to enhance or create the color used in enameling jewelry. This is mixed in with various catalysts depending on the metal and color used.

This powder mixture is laid carefully in predefined boundaries of metal created by either soldering very fine outlines in gold or by hammering into the metal to create grooves where the color should fill in. The color is then ‘blown’ in by heat torches to melt and fuse in with the metal surface. The trick of the art is to get the heat to just the right temperature where it will melt and fuse the glass into the metal without over heating it and getting it foggy or over melting the surface of the metal.

The final effect of meenakari gives a look similar to stained glass paintings. This technique has further been evolved into thewa art work but the original version in itself looks gorgeous to b with. You can get a range of colors, textures, shades and looks with meenakari which would be otherwise impossible to create in jewelry.

Check out our gorgeous indian jewelry with one gram gold polish on shopnamaste.com.

By: Jewel Sutra

Types of Polki Jewelry

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

At the time when very little was known about diamonds and imitations, every stone which was set in this technique fell into the category of ‘kundan’, but eventually, instead of diamonds some artisans started using glass in their products. Rubies, emeralds, sapphire and semi precious stones were already being set in the kundan form of jewelry. To add color to the products, enamel work was done wherever required which made it more appealing and better finished.

Gradually, the distinction of a diamond from the glass being used in these products was categorised by another technique called ‘polki’. Very little is known about when the word polki was used initially to describe uncut diamonds but when it was used, it came to define the kundan art that used uncut natural diamonds and ‘kundan’ itself was a word that was used to describe glass imitations of the same.

The technical difference between polki and kundan is that ‘polki’ uses real diamonds and kundan fancies ‘glass’ imitations of the same. Because kundan is more expensive, therefore the craftsmanship used in kundan products is more refined.

Browse through shopnamaste.com to take a look at some exclusive polki jewelry sets.
By: Jewel Sutra

Description of Indian Bridal Jewelry

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Jewelry forms a very important part of the overall attire of an Indian bride. In fact, the bridal look is believed to be incomplete unless the bride wears each and every piece of the jewelry meant for her. In majority of the Indian weddings, you will find the bride wearing yellow gold jewelry. However, depending on the budget, some people might opt for silver, platinum, white gold or diamond jewelry as well. Precious stones, such as ruby, jade, garnet, emerald, amethyst and pearl, are also widely used in Indian bridal jewelry. While you might see some variation in the bridal jewelry, depending on the particular region of the country where it is taking place, the basic items remain the same. Let us know more about the jewelry for an Indian bride.

Types Of Indian Bridal Jewelry

Shringar Patti
Shringar patti can be described as a kind of tiara, usually in gold, which adorns the forehead of the bride. It is placed along her hairline and has a circular plaque in the middle, which hangs below the hair line (on the forehead).

Maang Tikka
Maang Tikka can be said to be a shortened version of the shringaar patti. It comprises of a string, with a center piece attached to one end and a hook to the other. It is worn by the bride in center parting of the hair.

Bridal Set (Necklace & Earrings)
The outfit of a bride is incomplete without the bridal set, which comprises of a heavy neck piece, along with matching earrings. It is usually selected keeping in mind the color and overall style of the bridal dress.

Nath (Nose Ring)
Nath forms yet another important part of the bridal jewelry. It comprises of a studded nose ring, which has a long chain attached to it. The chain is hooked up in the hair of the bride, above the ear.

Chudi (Bangles)
Chudi (bangles), of gold as well as in glass, makes up a part of the overall jewelry worn by a bride. In some of the cases (like Punjabi weddings), the glass bangles are replaced by ivory ones, in red and white color (called chuda).

Hathphool (Bracelet with Rings)
Hathphool is a beautiful piece of jewelry that adorns the wrist as well as the fingers of the bride. It comprises of a bracelet, with one of the more strings attached to it, having rings(s) at the other end.

Anguthi (Finger Rings)
While wearing hathphool is not compulsory for a bride, anguthi surely is. Apart from the engagement ring, in the ring finger of her left hand, she wears one or more gold/diamond rings as well (in the other fingers).

Bichhua (Toe Ring)
An essential part of the bridal jewelry, in many states of India, bichhua comprises of a toe ring, usually in silver. It is also regarded as one of the signs of a married woman and is worn in pairs only.

Payal (Anklet)
Along with the toe ring, a bride is always required to wear payal, also known as pajeb, as a part of her wedding jewelry. It adorns the ankle of a bride, is made of silver (mostly) and has meenakari, kundan or beads as decorations.

Mangal Sutra (Necklace with Black Beads)
The most important part of the bridal jewelry is mangal sutra. However, it is not worn by the bride before the marriage. Rather, it is tied by her husband (around her neck), as symbol of their union. It comprises of a string of black beads, with a gold or diamond pendant.

Kamarband (Waist Band)
In the earlier times, the bride used to wear the kamarband around her waist. A heavy piece of jewelry, it was meant to support the wedding dress and keep in place. These days, it might or might not be worn by the bride.

Baaju Band (Arm Bands)
Baju band used to be a necessary part of the bridal jewelry, at one point of time in the past. However, these days, wearing it is optional. Some brides might wear one in each of the arms, while other may go for a single piece only

Check us out at shopnamaste.com for exclusive indian bridal jewelry sets.

By: iloveindia

What is kundan jewelry?

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

Kundan Jewelry is another blend of gold jewelry. Here, highly refined gold is used in conjunction with a special material called lac. Lac is a natural resin made from a hardened tree sap. Here, each piece of jewelry containing holes is separately made. These pieces are then joined to make one single piece by soldering. Engraving work is then done, depending upon the design. Following this, lac is laid out in these holes and can be seen from the front side. On this highly refined gold is poured, followed by the precious stone. The lac is covered by the gold and the precious stone is finally set. For extra durability, more kundan or refined gold can be added.

A single piece of Kundan jewelry is done by different artisans. The chiterias do the work of basic designing of the jewelry, engraving work is carried out be ghaarias, the enameling work is done be the enameler, the goldsmith looks after the gold or kundan work and finally stone setters do work of just setting the precious stone in the holes of the jewelry. Different precious stones which can be incorporated in kundan jewelry comprise of agate, garnet, emerald, topaz, amethyst, jade, rock crystal, spinel, uncut diamonds, sapphires etc.

Rajasthan and it cities of Jaipur, Nathdwara and Bikaner are well known for kundan jewelry. You will be surprised to see the variety of kundan jewelry available here ranging from jewelry sets, earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, armbands, nose rings etc. Intricate motifs, designs and engravings make each piece of kundan jewelry distinct and striking from each other. Most of the kundan jewelry available today is replicas of earlier designs of the olden days.

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