Jewelry has been in possession since the start of the human race and is still quite a favorite among modern men and women in today’s world. Individuals tend to search for exquisite jewelry designs and accessories to match the outfits that they adorn. Gems, stones, and metals form a jewelry set that provides a distinct glitter and dazzles the wearer while donning one on special occasions.
Indian jewelry has also been pretty prevalent over the years, and a few important facts regarding the history of jewelry are projected below for the audience to have a look at.
10 important facts regarding Indian jewelry
Let us look at the important facts and figures regarding Indian jewelry demonstrated below for checking purposes.
1. The Evolution of Indian Jewelry
Indian jewelry started in the Stone Age era, as it resembled the early Indians’ lifestyle and religious thoughts. The jewelry designs during the Sunga and Gandharva periods were inspired by the Greeks, while the jewelry designs during Akbar’s rule were created using Iranian designers. Later, during Shahjahan’s regime, the Dutch and the Iranians worked together to create intricate designs with emblems for the rich here in India.
2. Important jewelry of the early kings
One of the most important pieces of jewelry for the kings was the Navratan jewelry worn by the imperial leaders of society. The Navratan jewelry consisted of nine gems placed in a gold patch and consisted of ruby, emerald, pearl, sapphire, cat’s eye, coral, diamond, topaz, and hessonite.
3. Diamond mining in India
The oldest diamond mining in the world started here in India, which has some of the oldest mines recorded in distinct places. The largest diamond to ever be known is the Cullinan, which weighed approximately 1.3 pounds.
4. History of jewelry
The early Egyptians and Iraqis were at par in creating exquisite jewelry and used gold, silver, and copper in making distinct sets. The concept of metallurgy and gemstones has been quite prevalent from the early ages in Egypt, and thus the tradition of gem designing came into focus. According to historians and archaeologists, Indian jewelry evidence dates back around 7000 years.
5. Tradition of Engagement Rings
The tradition of engagement rings was offered by Maximilian in Austria in the year 1477. He made a traditional gold ring with complex designs for his would-be wife, Mary of Burgundy. The tradition still continues, with Indian natives preferring ring exchanges on wedding occasions here in India.
6. Diamond consumers in the world
The United States of America is the largest consumer of diamonds in the world, followed by China in the second. India is the third-largest country to consume a hefty number of diamonds, with its first discovery on early Indian soil.
7. Distinction of Ruby
Ruby is also referred to as Ratnaraj in early Indian dialects, which means the King of Stones. A top-quality ruby can cost much more than any stone found on earth.
8. Oldest Jewelry Designs
The oldest jewelry designs were introduced during the Victorian and Renaissance eras, with designers from early France, Iran, and the Netherlands creating exotic jewelry sets for the imperial rulers.
9. Concept of Black Jet Jewelry
Black Jet Jewelry was pretty prevalent during the monarchy of Queen Victoria, and they used coal fossil jewelry dating back 150 million to 200 million years ago. These coal specimens resembled the coal structures during the mid-Jurassic time.
10. Jewelry mining and polishing craftsmanship
During the early days, there was an abundance of precious stones and metals in India. Gold, silver, and copper were produced in huge quantities, and early Indians were experts in mining and polishing these stones. Coral, agate, ruby, sapphire, and ivory can be found in plenty during the old times here in India.
In a Nutshell
To wrap up, the above are the 10 important facts regarding Indian jewelry and its diverse details. Individuals can check out various jewelry designs from the greatest artisans around India and choose the one that matches their style statement. Individuals can also look for the quality of the stones along with their weight to adorn them with their best outfits on special occasions and festivals in India.
