| The jewelry of India knows no bounds in | | | | cover the lac and only then is the stone |
| its offerings to the modern world. This | | | | pushed right into the still pliable |
| is because India must be one of the most | | | | kundan. Kundan jewelry is also one of |
| prolific countries when it comes to | | | | the old types of jewelry in India |
| making jewelry, whether it be the simple | | | | because the style on which it was made |
| enjoyable ones or the highly delicate | | | | was used only way back when claw |
| ones that are intricate in its designs. | | | | settings were still yet unknown in the |
| There are just many types of Indian | | | | country. Then, kundan jewelry had its |
| jewelry that even the young could find | | | | precious stones were only set in gold |
| what they want among its offering of | | | | and it wasn't only until the nineteenth |
| beads and shells in interwoven colorful | | | | century that claw settings were |
| threads. One of the most highly regarded | | | | introduced and used by the jewelers in |
| Indian jewelry nowadays is the kundan | | | | India. This was during the Rajastahan |
| jewelry. Kundan jewelry is made of gold | | | | empire when kings paid their jewelers |
| that is highly refined and is known as | | | | handsomely for the exquisite kundan |
| kundan in India. Indian jewelers also | | | | jewelry that they made that called for |
| have another meaning of the word. For | | | | excellent craftsmanship. There are now a |
| them, kundan is not only the gold that | | | | lot of kundan jewelry available in the |
| is made into a jewel but also the type | | | | market and they could even be bought |
| of setting on which they set the | | | | online. There are spectacularly |
| precious stones. Kundan jewelry is not | | | | designed kundan jewelry necklace sets |
| made of real solid gold. Its center | | | | that come with earrings. The most |
| part is made of lac or a natural resin | | | | common are those that have uncut |
| made from hardened tree sap. The | | | | diamonds and other precious stones set |
| jewelry pieces that makes the whole | | | | in gold. Among the commonly used gems |
| kundan jewelry, which are usually | | | | in kundan jewelry are emeralds, rubies |
| justified into hollow separate halves, | | | | and sapphires. This kundan jewelry, |
| are usually handled by separate jewelers | | | | though, is often just a replica of the |
| or assistant jewelers for its shaping | | | | original one made in the eighteenth or |
| before they are fitted together through | | | | seventeenth or nineteenth centuries. |
| soldering. Holes are then bored into | | | | The original pieces could sell for as |
| the separate halves of the kundan | | | | much as $200,000 or more per set. Buying |
| jewelry, once they are fitted together | | | | kundan jewelry nowadays may have been |
| to make the pattern designed by the | | | | made more attainable for those who have |
| jeweler. These holes are where the | | | | deeper pockets as compared to the olden |
| stones are set. Any engraving is done | | | | times when only kings and queens could |
| before the hollows of the kundan jewelry | | | | afford them. Having kundan jewelry |
| are then inserted with lac. Because the | | | | replicated and sold at lower prices is a |
| lac could still be seen through the | | | | welcome alternative for those who could |
| holes in front, the highly refined | | | | not afford to buy the original antique |
| kundan gold is poured on the setting to | | | | pieces. |