Fascinating History of India’s Jewels and Jewellery

For more than 2,000 years, India was the sole supplier of gemstones to the world. Golconda diamonds, sapphires from Kashmir and pearls from the Gulf of Mannar were coveted and drew merchants across land and sea to India.

For the rulers, jewels were a statement of power, prosperity and prestige. But for Indian women, jewelry was, and is, in many parts considered a social and economic security, the value of which will almost always appreciate, never depreciate.

Yet despite the relative simplicity of these early pieces, Indian jewelry was about to become much more complex in its style and workmanship. In the 2,000 years after the decline of Mohenjodaro, the Indian craftsman had polished his skills immensely. So there’s delicate filigree work on gold, embossing work and detailed micro-granulations on the pendants of a pair of large earrings that date back to this period.