Jewellery making is believed to have started thousands of years ago in India. Hence, India has an exclusive collection of jewellery designs and styles. You can tell by the look of the design as to which category it belongs to. Every design is unique in its own way. Since this land was brimming with various precious metals and gems, they were put to effective use in the form of ornaments, decorating each part of the body. This was the main reason why foreigners came to India. Earlier kings and queens wore jewels to flaunt their wealth, prestige and power, but later on it became a symbol of financial security and investment.
Jewels have never lost their aesthetic appeal and value all along these years that they are considered as an artful expression comprising workmanship and design. Indian jewellery is designed from various raw materials including silver, gold, precious stones like diamonds, rubies, emeralds and semi-precious stones like turquoise, opal and so on. In India, you find wide array of jewels for humans and gods. Each part of the country has attributed to the emergence of various styles of jewels exclusive to that region. For instance, delicate filigree work made from silver is unique to Andra Pradesh and Orissa while meenakari work that incorporates enamel in jewels is unique to Jaipur. Delhi is famous for its Kundan jewellery made from semi precious and precious stones, Nagercoil for temple jewellery and so on.
Among the above discussed art forms, temple jewellery, meenakari jewellery and antique jewellery have a huge fan following not only in India but also in abroad. Temple jewellery is often linked to dancers performing classical dance like Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. These designs are elaborate and are studded with semi-precious stones in green and red colors. The set comprises of earrings, necklaces, anklets, and pieces beautifying the feet, hip, hair and hair plaits. Antique jewellery designs are in great demand these days. They are often modern versions of jewel forms most often made from silver and gold but with a dull appearance. Kundan and Meenakari gold jewellery items are seen to have the influence of the Moghul rulers and craftsmen. These jewels are famous among people belonging to the northern part of India. They incorporate enamel painting and include precious stones. This type of jewellery design suits more for making necklaces and chokers and this art form includes motifs of plants, flowers, vines and even animals.