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