18 Different Types of Indian Pendant Jewellery

18 Different Types of Indian Pendant Jewellery
March 24, 2022 Vijay Soni Danwar

When we talk about jewellery lovers what usually come up to our mind are people who love to wear and collect as many possible pieces of the wearable art we call jewellery. And it’s quite reasonable to think so as people who are fond of jewellery and love to showcase their beauty by accessorizing it in various styles such as the versatile use of Indian pendant jewellery.

Jewellery doesn’t shy away and sometimes even goes over the top with the amount of wearing them. 

But loving jewellery and wearing them isn’t always about how many more pieces or how larger and more complicated jewels one adds to their look. Also, heavy jewellery is something that’s troublesome and might come out as quite uncomfortable for everyday wear. 

Also, there are jewellery lovers who like to keep it simple and fancy but still can steal the show with their look. And this is exactly where the minimalistic styles of pieces of jewellery come in handy. And not only for minimalist lovers but minimalistic jewellery is something that has been on the trend for a while.

It’s been around for a long time and continues to be popular among the modern crowd of jewellery lovers. In fact, this style of jewellery has seen a growth in popularity over the past several years, tied in with the move towards a simpler and less cluttered lifestyle alongside the shift towards more ethical choices.

Since we’re talking about Minimalistic choice of Jewelleries one of the best and most well-known popular styles of minimalist statement jewellery is pendant pieces jewellery. A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, which may be known as a “pendant necklace”.

The pendant necklaces or pendant style jewellery are something that has been making rounds all across the social media and market due to its new trendy styles and easy-to-wear and carries features. The minimalistic style of the pendant jewellery offers all the sparkle and lustre of gemstones and precious metals, yet keeps it simple and elegant, giving it great appeal to people from all walks of life.

The elegant aesthetic of the pendant style jewellery complements all sorts of outfits and its simplicity means you cannot really get it wrong when wearing the style. Its delicate nature simply works its subtle magic on everyone, effortlessly enhancing the natural beauty of its wearer. 

Therefore, if you too are on the lookout for a type of jewellery that’s capable of being gorgeous, subtle, comfortable and can cheer up the outfits or give it a professional stylistic touch without going overboard The different types of pendant jewellery are all that you need to know about. So here’s a list of the different types of pendant jewellery that one can look for to add an extra charm to their outfits effortlessly. 

 

Jo mala

Jo-mala Or ‘Jomale’, is a traditional Coorgi bridal wedding jewellery, consisting of grooved gold beads strung on a black thread cord with a gold-capped tassel (Kuchi). It is typically a long, double-lined necklace where the beads are filled with a translucent material called ‘lac’.

These long-neck chains look very beautiful on a saree. Some wear ‘Jomale‘ without a pendant and some of them wear it with a beautiful pendant that adds to the splendour of the ornament.

 

Jo Mala

Jali Pendant Jewellery

Jali pendant jewellery is basically the pendants made in the Indian Jali jewellery design which is characterized by its exquisite metalwork featuring metal mesh and filigree.

The word ‘jali’ refers to the type of stone carvings found in Indian architecture, which features intricate and detailed stone or wooden filigrees like designs used for spacing interiors in houses and ancient monuments. 

In this type of pendant jewellery, the focus is on the metals rather than on the gemstones and it takes professional experience and skills to manipulate the metal into intricate latticed patterns.

Gold Plated Jali Pendent

Gold Plated Jali Pendent

Baari Barsi Pendant Necklaces

This type of pendant jewellery necklace includes a colourful layered enamel carved into a gold-plated brass base. It’s commonly found in the pops of pastel pink and green enamel with an added layer of intricate mirror work, and freshwater pearls put all together in a thin gold chain this finished piece of pendant jewellery is uniquely handcrafted and is one of the best lightweight pendant pieces of jewellery that goes with every kind of outfit.

Baari Barsi Pendent

Pachchikam Jewellery

The Pachchikam pendant jewellery or Pachchi jewellery of Kutch and Gujarat is a prime example of Indian jewellery and craft heritage that has been revived in recent times, albeit with slight changes.

This centuries-old Indian jewellery art has suddenly been revived by contemporary jewellery designers and due to its exquisite appeal and glass set intricate designs, it has acquired a vogue status in the contemporary world.

This handcrafted jewellery art, which was once adorned only by the European Royalty ( in the early 16th century)  is now fast replacing traditional gold ornaments and is a big hit amongst the youth.

Pachchikam pendant designs bear striking resemblance to the Kundan jewellery of Jaipur as both involve elaborate stonework using single un-cut diamonds known as Polkis and other semi-precious stones.

But on closer inspection, one can notice that Pachchikam appears to be cruder and is more fragile as compared to Kundan. Just like Polki in Pachchi jewellery as well there’s a gold or silver foil at the back that is painted to place the uncut diamonds or other precious gems in between the reflecting lights.

Not only Pachchikam pendants but also bangles, earrings, necklaces, armlets, trinkets and headgears all are wardrobe worthy and are also less expensive than Kundan. 

Panchalogam Pendants

Panchalogam is a composition or mixture of five different precious metals that are used to form motifs of Gods and Goddesses or other regular designs to form pendant pieces of jewellery that can be paired up with gold or silver chains to wear. 

Pu-Tali Necklaces

This Carcanet style neckpiece is crafted from the light gold sheets into identical floral motifs pendants or consists of Lakshmi motif gold coin designs. This type of pendant necklace jewellery hails from ancient Maharashtra and is a very popular style in Kolhapuri jewellery. This type of Indian pendant necklace can also be seen being worn by Kolhapur’s famous goddess Amba Bai. 

Putali Necklace

Putali Necklace

Baleora

It’s a pendant necklace design that hails from the “pink city” of India, Jaipur. Constructed with seven chains interspersed with Gem-set spacers and a pendant this type of pendant jewellery was initially worn by the men of the merchant community of Rajasthan

Jadau Pendants

Jadau pieces of jewellery aren’t actually a category of jewellery designs itself rather it’s the technique with which the initial form of Kundan, Polki and Pachchikam jewellery is made. The Jadau technique features the gemstones set into gold formations and crafted into ornate designs of different kinds. This type of pendant piece of jewellery is perfect for a raw vintage look or outfit.

Jadau Pendent - Mahabir Danwar Jewelers

Jadau Pendent

Kokke Thathi

Karnataka’s Kokke Thathi necklace is a crescent moon-shaped gold pendant embedded with Rubies and framed with small pearls or gold beads. It is filled with lace and suspended from a hollow gold beaded chain. It is a mandatory piece of jewellery that is owned by every Coorgi girl it has a carved image of seated goddess Lakshmi flanked by two swans and a hooded cobra symbolic of wealth and fertility. 

Manga Malai Pendants

This is one of the many types of mango-shaped designed ornaments that have been a part of the traditional and ancient Indian pieces of jewellery. The classical manga malai Indian pendant includes the mango-shaped pendants (called paisley) embellished on the edges of the heavy gold strings. 

Manga Malai Pendent

Chaandbali Pendant Jewelleries

Tracing its roots in Mughal and Rajput royalty, the ‘Chaandbali’ is a bejewelled interpretation of the crescent moon. The Kundan and Jadau designs are incorporated in enamelled patterns and are set intricately with crystals and fringed with tiny pearls these pendants are then suspended across a thin Or wide gold chain.

Even though Chaand Balis has been more common to be worn as earrings this particular design is also very popular as a pendant design that can easily add the perfect regal touch of royalty to the simplest of outfits. 

Nakshi Pendant Pieces of Jewellery

Nakshi jewellery is a part of temple designs that originate from southern India and has existed from ancient times through the 21st century. In Nakshi pendant jewellery the handcrafted jewellery design is made on paper by the customer or the jeweller according to the choice of design and then that pattern is carved out into the metal base. Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesh, Lord Krishna, Lion (Simha), Flowers, etc. are various commonly known shapes created by the worker in making beautiful Nakshi pendant jewellery. 

Navaratna Pendant Jewellery

Navaratna – as one word refers to a talisman, piece of jewellery or ornament composed of nine perfect gemstones. Jewellery created using all the nine stones is called Navaratna jewellery. Each of the stones depicts a particular planetary body and taps into its energies.

One of the most common types of Navaratna jewellery that’s worn is the Navaratna pendant necklaces that come in variant original, contemporary and traditional designs. Sometimes the Kundan, Pachchikam and temple jewellery designs are combined to form a pendant design that’s unique and antique at the same time. 

Navaratna Pendant

Amulets 

Amulets also called Talisman, are materialistic objects that are either natural or man-made, believed to be endowed with special powers to protect or bring good fortune.

Now, while the amulets are available in different forms, shapes, and sizes, the amulet is generally a wearable piece that is worn around your neck, arm, or leg, often in the form of a pendant.

Most the individuals who are into amulets often choose this accessory for their necklaces because they believe that the amulets are objects that possess spiritual or magical powers that protect the wearers of the necklace from danger.

Some people believe that the amulets can dispel evil influences or forces, keeping them safe and their energies protected at all times. Sometimes these amulet pendant jewellery contain spiritualistic chants or prayers inscribed on them. 

Lockets

Lockets are the most common pieces of focal elements added to pendant necklaces, but they are not only the most popular option but also the oldest form of pendant used for necklaces.

A locket is a small decorative piece that is designed to open when the ‘lock’ is pried open, revealing a small space that often holds a photograph or even a lock or curl of hair of a loved one.

Lockets were usually given to loved ones on holidays such as Valentine’s Day and occasions such as christenings, weddings and, most noticeably during the Victorian Age, funerals. Sometimes these also had the inscribed name of the loved ones over the opening top part. These are probably one of the fanciest and most beautiful forms of pendant jewellery that have been known. 

Locket

Functional Pendant Jewellery

Functional Indian pendant jewellery is exactly what it sounds like beautiful accessories that serve a purpose. The most common examples of the functional pendants include the Maori Pounamu functional pendants, the boson’s whistles, Shepherd’s whistles, and the Ocarinas.

All these can be made into cute necklace pendants. In the 21st century, specifically in the first century, jewellers started to incorporate things like flash drives into the pendants, but this is no longer the norm.

Teardrop Pendants

The teardrop pendant is what you opt for if you are looking for a simplistic pendant type that maximizes the size and the design of the stone, crystal, or bling incorporated in the pendant. Most of the available options of teardrop pendants boast a hard look, and the fact that they are shaped like teardrops makes them the most stunning jewellery option you could invest in.

This type of pendant jewellery includes a huge piece of precious stone like diamond, ruby, emerald Sapphire, etc. in the shape of a teardrop and surrounded by mini gemstones or just the simple linings of the base metal like gold, silver or platinum. 

Pendant Jewellery By Mahabir Danwar Jewellers

Gowrishankaram Necklace

The Gowrishankaram, also known as Gowrisangam, is one of the most important and impressive of all neck ornaments from Tamil Nadu in South India. Gowrishankaram is a necklace of rudraksha seeds with a gold repoussé pendant with an amulet box suspended below, worn only by men of the Chettiar community and by Shaivaites priests.

The central unit depicts Shiva and Parvati on the bull Nandi flanked by Ganesh and Kartikeya, the box is a container for the twin-seed rudraksha. Kartikeya riding the peacock is depicted on the clasp. This type of pendant jewelry sometimes also depicts the tandava pose of Natraj in its carvings.

It is one of the few necklaces that has been traditionally worn by men and is more like an amulet for the people of Tamil Nadu. 

 

Conclusion

As we can see there’s a huge variety of pendant jewellery that one can choose from. Even though pendant pieces of jewellery are the simplest form of jewellery that is worn the diversity of its variant incorporations, styles, designs, and different metals and gemstones in which it can be found is a huge list to choose from.

The different types of pendant jewellery are what one needs to have in their collection whether for everyday wearing purposes, for any occasion or a special event this jewellery item has the power to make one look chic and classy without too much effort and also it’s a fair purchase as it isn’t a huge piece of chunky neckpiece or extravagant costly jewel pieces.

Also, pendant jewellery makes a great gift to give someone and is more affordable. Therefore for every jewellery lover who loves to wear jewellery every day but huge pieces are difficult to carry all day long, for every person who isn’t much into jewellery items but wants to give it a try, and for everyone who wants to look charming and effortlessly gorgeous; a piece of pendant jewellery is all that’s needed in your wardrobe. 

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