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