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