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Jewellery in India is not only great in its appearance but also in its relevance to the culture and customs of the Indian people. Indian Jadau Jewellery is more than just any jewellery, holding deep meaning in many ways including its design, usage and the stories behind its making.
The jewellery market in India is a vibrant one. It is one of the oldest markets in India and there exists a long history in the jewellery trade, dating back centuries. This blog takes a look at why the Jadau Jewellery market is so important in India and why this style of jewellery is so in-demand and beautiful.
Jadau Jewellery
An epitome of finesse among some of the most regal Indian heritage accessories, Jadau is a style of jewellery that was originally rooted in the areas of Rajasthan and Bikaner. It is basically the embedding of precious and semi-precious stones into gold to form a stunning piece that is rich and sustainable in style.
Jadau can also be considered as the technique of making a Kundan or Polki piece of jewellery.
Origin of Jadau
Inspired by Mughal cultures and traditions, the Jadau style of jewellery spread to Rajasthan and Gujarat, where the craftsmen adopted its making. With time, its beauty and elegance spread throughout the country. It is one of the oldest forms of jewellery in the country, with the rings and necklaces being nothing less than a perfect mark for beauty. Earlier more than 1000 artisans had to work in order to produce one single Kundan or Jadau jewellery design.
Inscribing diamonds into Kundan and Polki is also considered to be a form of Jadau Jewellery Jaipur style design.
Making of Jadau Jewellery
One of the most tedious processes, the making of a single piece of this jewellery takes a long time. Setting a handful of 3-4 stones into gold can take an entire day. In fact, designers, Goldsmiths and Meenakars all come together to make a Jadau accessory.
1st Step – The creation of the perfect design or artwork that suits the need of the customer or is versatile and attractive when worn.
2nd Step – The melting and cooling of refined gold in the perfect shape to allow the imbibement of stones in it is the second step of the Jadau-making process.
3rd Step – Enamelling or the coating/decorating of the stones is done lastly by the use of the Polki or Kundan techniques. It accentuates the jewelry and makes it ready for use, and damage-resistant.
Types of Jadau Jewellery
Similar to other Indian jewellery designs, even the Jadau piece has its own variations or types. To name a few:
Eye-Catching Neck Chokers – One of the most popular neckpieces today, chokers are worn by brides and women attending any other traditional function. Even westernized chokers are found today to be worn with western outfits, such as the popularity of this type of accessory.
Especially Jadau chokers are among the premium assortment of pieces of jewellery present today. Embracing the royal aura, with fine rubies and emerald decor on the neck to accentuate the boldness of the look, it is an ideal choice for brides.
The Navratna Royalty – Navratna or, literally, Nine Gems is exactly what it sounds like. Necklaces and bracelets of Navratna kind inspired by Jadau styles are trending among the younger generation today. Women who are particularly choosy about their accessories or know exactly what they want to buy, end up opting for this unique set.
Being diverse, it serves as a crowd attractor and is sure to impress any attire you wear alongside.
Rings to Remember – Jadau rings are dazzling pieces of hand jewellery worn on the fingers by men and women. A simple gold plated ring with an uncut diamond or ruby can be used as menswear, providing variations to male accessories. This adds status and attraction to even men’s outfits.
On the other hand, women can make comparatively larger feminine pieces of bright emeralds on gold which will prove as an effective decorative piece. Jadau Rings will call attention to the slenderness of your hands, making them stand out in their exquisiteness.
Jadau Ring
Dainty Chandbalis – Inscribed with floral or nature-inspired motifs made of pearl and green beads makes the perfect Jadau Chandbali. Their roundness allows the entire design to be displayed clearly which thereby leaves a lasting impact.
‘Chand’ means moon, while ‘Bali denotes the earring. Like Jadau, Chandbalis have also been present and in use since the Mughal era, without any signs of decline.
Chandbali
Impactful Rani Haar – Rani haar is a piece of jewellery that has been a vital component of a bride’s wardrobe for decades, lending the characteristic traditional smell and elegant regal sentiments to a bride’s appearance.
The Jadau Rani Haar, though expensive, serves every penny of its value when worn by women. Brides take pride in adorning their neck by wearing this neckpiece that may reach their waist at times. Mostly worn with chokers, the Jadau Rani Haar is a gorgeous piece of Indian jewellery that is mostly worn during important occasions, due to its impact and value.
Jadau Rani Haar
Amazing Kangans – Bangles also known as Kangan are historic Indian jewellery worn by women and men for several decades. Punjabi men are often seen to be wearing a single Kada on their wrists made of metals like silver or gold.
The Jadau Bangles are a trending choice for women who wish to go for a more classy look to complement their regional attire. Wearing a set or a pair of Jadau bangles helps beautify their wrists that are filled with bright colourful gems and gold ornaments. We find brides throughout India wearing bangles that may go up to half of their forearms during their weddings ceremony.
Key Points to Remember About Jadau Jewellery (How to Take Care)
- Avoid rubbing it against surfaces or materials for the precious stones embedded into them might fall off by the friction.
- A damp cloth can be used to clean Jadau jewellery sets. Drying it later and story it in a spacious box should be the next step.
- Don’t put two pieces of jewellery together. Assign a separate box for each piece to avoid any mishandling or falling off of gems.
- The charm of Jadau jewellery works well with complementing colours like red outfits with red accessories or even contrasting colours like green outfits with pink jewellery sets.
- Using a perfume or chemical sprays near the jewellery may lead to the dimness of the shine of the Jadau jewellery, hence, wear it at the end, once you are ready with no risk of such application.
- In case of any faults in the stone, get it checked by a certified jeweller for safety purposes. You can Contact Us for easy help.
Conclusion
So, what is Jadau jewellery? The word Jadau means ‘ornament’ or ‘decoration’ and is derived from the Persian word “Zardozi”. Zardozi is the art and craft of applying intricate patterns and designs to fabric using gold and silver thread. It is commonly used in the traditional dress of the women of Sindh, Pakistan. The art is also known as “Kashida embroidery” and is practised by the women of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
It’s always fascinating to learn about the history of a tradition, in this case, the Jadau tradition. We hope you enjoyed learning about this tradition and its origins. Please contact us if you have any questions about Jadau or other Indian jewellery. We are always happy to help – Mahabir Danwar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Jadau and Kundan Jewellery?
- Kundan is a type of gold jewellery that is produced from the purest form of metal. Kundan is the name of the framework that surrounds the gems. While Jadau is the technique used to make Kundan and Polki jewellery. Using this technique a separate Jadau jewellery has also come into place, as mentioned in the above blog.
What is the difference between Polki and Jadau?
- Polki is unpolished, uncut diamonds in their native condition. In India and the entire world, it is the oldest type of diamond. Because Polki diamonds are only polished over their exterior, no twin diamonds are ever the same structurally. While Jadau is the technique used to make Kundan and Polki jewelry.
Does Jadau jewellery have resale value?
- Yes, Jadau jewellery does have resale value. Talking to the seller of that particular piece can get you a good value. However, a maintained and refined Jadau set can be sold elsewhere with ease too.
Is Jadau jewellery expensive?
- Jadau is a technique that engraves valuable stones like diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires into a gold frame. Jadau jewellery is solely made of pure gold, 22k or 24k, and never less. As a result, it is a fairly pricey piece of jewellery.
What is diamond Jadau jewellery?
- It’s a jewellery-making method in which valuable gemstones such as uncut diamonds, pearls, emeralds, and rubies are set in gold.
