12 Most Popular Designs of Jewellery From Rajasthan

With its glorious history of Rajputs endowed with magnificent forts and palaces, invincible architecture, and a lot more, Rajasthan is known as the land of royalty and kingdoms.

But did you know that in earlier times in Rajasthan, due to hostile desert environments and continuous warfare, the people started to invest in gold and precious jewellery to secure their future?

The warrior clan of the Rajputs in Rajasthan made lavish use of jewellery-encrusted weapons that signified the sanctity of their caste and enhanced their social status.

Rajasthani jewellery which is the oldest form of jewellery is indeed spectacular in all its glory.

Here’s everything you need to know about the different types of traditional styles of jewellery from Rajasthan.

Silver Jewellery:

[Image Courtesy: Pintrest]

Rajasthan is well known for its tribal jewellery. The tribal groups of Rajasthan adorn colorful and weighty ornaments, decorated with coins, shells, beads, and metallic mesh which make them distinguishable at the very first glance.

The Banjara tribes of Rajasthan wear embellished belts around their waists to complement their tribal banjara look.

Due to its affordable price, silver is used to make tribal Rajasthani ornaments.

The list of silver ornaments adorned by Rajasthani women includes everything from upper armlet, neck ring/hansuli, Rajasthani necklace and mandliya string neckband, heavily layered belt, single waist chain, and toe rings.

Tokariya/antique tribal old silver hoops are well known among the tribal individuals in Rajasthan.

Antique Rajasthani jewellery silver with a hint of Banjara/tribal appeal is gaining major points in the fashion industry.

Lac Jewellery:

[Image Courtesy: Utsav Pedia]

Lac, also known as “common man’s gold” is the jewellery staple for the women of Rajasthan.

Found in a plethora of colorful and vibrant designs and patterns, Lac jewellery is a perfect mix of tradition and fashion.

The artwork for Lac jewellery requires skilled craftsmanship. It is a kind of lacquered work that is done on either silver or gold with colored glass pieces.

Plain Lac is used in a variety of religious ceremonies and rituals as well.
Lac jewellery symbolizes marriage and therefore, married women wear Lac Bangles.

Kudan and Jadau Jewellery:

[Image Courtesy:Beendani]

In Jewellery from Rajasthan, Kundan-Jadau’s work is extremely popular. However, people often tend to get confused between Jadau and Kundan jewellery.

While Kundan is a type of stone, Jadau is the art of embedding Kundan and Polki stones into the metal surface,

In Rajasthan, jadau work began to rise as the artists crafted the art of embedding stones and metals on the surface of objects.

Technique Of Kundan Work

Gold foil leaves were inserted between the walls and precious and semiprecious stones like diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and tourmalines in this technique.

The silver or gold foil placed below and in between the surface enabled greater reflection of light through the stone, due to which the stone highlighted brilliance and natural sheen.

Immaculately crafted with precision and accuracy, Kundan and Jadau jewellery is a one-of-a-kind type that requires highly skilled craftsmanship.

Jadau jewelry was inspired by the Mughal empire (the believers in royalty).

In a world full of precious and semi-precious stones, Jadau and Kundan jewelry serve the elite and aristocrats with embellished and engraved stones to personify the old-world charm with a blend of royalty and flamboyance.

Meenakari Jewellery:

[Image Courtesy: Stori Stream]

Meenakari is hugely popular in jewellery from Rajasthan and requires great precision and skilled craftsmanship.

In Meenakari, the metal surface is intricately designed by fusing it with vibrant colors and embedding it with semi-precious/precious stones.

Pratapgarh/Thewa Jewellery:

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Also known by the name of Thewa art, Pratapgarh jewellery form is another way of enamel work that uses both gold and silver and has a colored glass piece on the base.

The crafting of Pratapgarh jewellery usually takes more than one month to get that beautiful intricate design.

Famous Styles of Jewellery from Rajasthan

1. Rakhdi/Sheeshfool/Borla

[Image Courtesy: India Today]

Rakhdi/Borla is the traditional Rajasthani head jewellery (Maang tikka). Being spherical or bell-like in shape, Borla, a traditional Rajasthani jewellery design is different from the usual maang tikas.

Borla is one of the most popular Rajasthani ornaments! It is basically a maang tikka that has a spherical pendant that hangs in the center of the head. Its Rajasthani jewellery name may sound a bit weird but it is a must-have style in every woman’s closet in Rajasthan.

It comes in colorful and eye-catchy patterns. Borla can be made with a variety of metals like gold, silver, brass, etc, and comes in a variety of stone-studded forms like Kundan, Meena, and pearls.

The traditional Borla comes in a spherical design attached to a gold chain.

The gold chains, as well as the spherical portion of the Borla, are available in a variety of styles. The trending styles include Kundan motifs adorned with Meenakari work.

Sheeshfool denotes the two side chains and is meant to support Borla.

The combination of sheesh fool and Borla forms a Matha Patti, worn by brides in Rajasthan. However, Sheeshfool is detachable and can be separated from the Borla.

2. Nath:

[Image Courtesy: Inuth]

Nath or Nathni is one of the most popular jewellery styles worn by Rajasthani women.

It is usually worn on the left nostril and joined to the left ear with a gold or pearl chain.

Nath makes an important part of the bridal jewellery from Rajasthan. It is adorned by the women at the wedding as well as festive occasions.

A large golden Nath embellished with a small Kundan makes every Rajasthani bride look elegant and royal.

3. Surliya/Kaanbali and Jhaale:

[Image Courtesy: Glossy Polish]

Rich in antique and royal look, Rajasthani jewelry earrings have gained quite the popularity. In Rajasthan, they are known as Surliya /Kaanbali or Jhaale.

Immaculately designed with intricate Kundan or Meenakari work, Rajasthani earrings give a rich royal look, mixed with a hint of tradition and fashion.

No doubt, Rajasthani earrings make you stand out among others. But you can’t attend every event with them. You need other types of earrings to amp up your look too.

4. Aad or Kanthi Necklace:

[Image Courtesy: Quora]

Kanthi or Aad necklace is one of the most famous and gorgeous styles of Rajasthani jewelry.

Also known by the name of the Rajputana or Rajasthani necklace, Aad is a square /rectangular choker and is usually gifted to the bride by the bridegroom’s family.

Worn by the brides, Kanthi is a traditional choker made of Gold and is usually adorned with Kundan and other precious stones like polka. Considered to be must-have jewellery in Rajasthan, Aad oomph the bride’s look and adds oodles of royal charm to her overall visual appeal.

Kanthi usually comes with an adjustable thread so that it can fit anyone.

In addition to Aad, Brides wear Rani Haar (Queen’s necklace) as well which is long up to the navel.

5. Bajubandh:

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Bajubandh is the upper armlet. It signifies marital ecstasy and therefore is worn by Marwari and Rajput brides.

The intricate stonework engraved on Gold is what makes the Bajubandh a royal ornament.

6. Bangadi:

[Image Courtesy: Rajputi Culture]

A set of two bangles worn by Rajasthani women, Bangadi bangles have a thick red lining and a small round gold protrusion covering the bangles.

These bangles are only worn by married Rajput Rajasthani women. The combination of gold and red color paired with intricate stone studded work is to die for.

If you’re looking for something classy and traditional in bangles then bangadi is definitely a good option.

7. Ivory Bangles:

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In most of the Rajasthani tribes, women wear ivory bangles.

An ideal set of ivory bangles includes 17 bangles worn on the upper arm and nine which are worn on the lower arm, a total of 52 on both arms.

These women are not allowed to remove the bangles, not even during sleep. These bangles are worn during a woman’s entire married life.

In Rajasthan’s tradition, Ivory bangles have a magical effect that protects the woman against evil and bad and eases birth pains.

Nowadays expensive ivory bangles are replaced with plastic ones due to the easy affordability of the latter ones.

8. Haathphool:

[Image Courtesy: Our Vivaha]

Haathphool is the hand bracelet and is popular by a number of names like haath kamal, hand chain, and hath panja. It beautifies the back of the wrist and the palm.

Available in various designs and patterns, haathphools are made of gold, Kundan, minakari, and sometimes jadau work.

They come in either one ring design or the five finger rings style. In the latter, the fiver finger rings are attached to the multiple strings of gold chains connecting together and merging into a flower which has another chain up to the bracelet.

9. Kardhani/Tagdi:

[Image Courtesy: Bollywood Shaadis]

A belly chain/waist chain is called Tagdi or Kardhani in Rajasthan. Made of gold, Polki work, or Kundan, it is mostly adorned by Rajasthani brides.

10. Anklet/Kada:

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An anklet is one of the most beautifully adorned jewellery styles in Rajasthan.

The tribal women of Rajasthan wear big circular silver kadas (like the one shown in the picture).

11. Kudan Bhutti

[Image Courtesy: http://www.blog.authindia.com/ ]

These are traditional Rajasthani jhumkas.

This Rajasthani jewellery design consists of heavy intricate work embellished with gems and stones (both precious and semi-precious).

12. Bichuwa:

[Image Courtesy: Soup For Our Soul]

Bichuwas are toe rings, made of either Gold or Silver. Quite popular in Rajasthan, Bichuwas are beautifully adorned by Rajasthani women on a daily basis. Nowadays, women wear artificial bichuwas.

Rajasthani Jewellery is indeed spectacular in all its glory. Read about the traditional attire and jewellery of Rajasthan.

Which style did you like the most? Drop comments fellas and let us know all about your favorite Rajasthani pick.

Also, if you wish to buy Rajasthani jewellery online then visit www.zerokaata.com. We have an exclusive collection of traditional Kundan and Tribal jewellery.

Till then,

Happy Shopping Fellas!