Jewelry

Archive for March, 2008

Carved Bangle

Indian jewelry from head to toe

For Indian women, embellishing themselves with ornaments is synonymous with beautifying their spirit. Indian women love to adorn themselves with beautiful and elaborate necklaces and jewelry as a tool to accentuate their feminity. Not only does donning jewelry signify the beautification of the body, but, also signifies the wealth possessed by the woman.

One would notice different sorts of jewelry donned by women at different stages of their lives, including, pre-marital life, marital stage and also when they make their endeavors to seek good fortune and dispel bad luck. The process of a woman donning her complete attire on is called solah shringaar, wherein she dons sixteen ornaments, from head to toe, to dress her self completely.

She prepares herself for her Solah Shringaar for prestigious occasions like her wedding or her near one’s wedlock. Here’s a glimpse on few ornaments that comprise the solah shringaar: Bindi: This is a small designed ornament meant to be worn at the center of the forehead. In spiritual terms it represents the invisible third eye associated with mythical powers, whereas in religious terms, it represents a wedded woman. It is an important part of a married woman’s shringaar.

But now days, in times of the society adapting modern ways of life, bindi is nothing more than an ornament to accentuate one’s beauty, nevertheless the married status. Earrings are another ornaments used for beautifying oneself. Though gold is still the predominant metal used for adornment by Indian women, there is an upsurge of earrings made in semi-precious gemstones, silver and other cheap metals.

Earrings could range from long danglers to small studs. Nose ring is another piece of jewelry traditionally worn by married women, but, now worn as a style statement by many unmarried women. Nose rings may vary from a diamond studded ring to gold nose rings to a semi-Precious Stone studded nose rings. Traditionally, nose rings are made to be worn by girls in right from their adolescent age of 5. Other varieties of nose accessories include Nose rings (Nath) which are also favorably worn by children. As observed after when the Indian girl gets engaged, her nose ring is exchanged with a stone studded gold nose ring. Indian women just love to wear elaborate stones-studded necklaces to enhance their beauty.

Unmarried women are however supposed to wear nothing more than a sleek Gold Chain, but this was observed some ten years ago. Mangalsutra, an auspicious necklace made in black Colored Beads and gold / diamond as per the choice the woman. This necklace is worn by married Indian women as a symbol of honor to her auspicious marriage. The style and appearance of mangalsutra varies and changes with different regions with different cultures.

It may be a gold ornament strung from a yellow thread as observed in south or a string of Black Beads strung with a pendant observed in the north. Bangles comprise form yet another major element of the shringaar. They are believed to be the sign of their marriage and are worn as symbolic guards over their husbands. Kada ( thick gold encrusted bangles) are worn by women of middle age. These Kadas might be enclosed or with a detachable screw.

Finger Rings, toe rings and anklets are yet another Indian ornaments worn by women both married and unmarried. These ornaments are made of gold and silver preferably. In addition to these ornaments there is mangtikka, an ornament worn on the forehead at the partition of the hair. It is usually a small chain strung with a pendant clasped to the hair. With a vast cultural arena of India, just a page giving glimpse on its traditional jewelry would not suffice. The article continues as Indian jewelry from head to toe part 2. TERMINOLOGY: solah shringaar- dressing oneself Bindi: Sticking ornament applied on the center of the forehead. Nath: Nose ring Mangalsutra: Black-beaded necklace Kada: Enclosed Thick Bangle Mangtikka: Thin chain with a pendant worn on the forehead.

About the Author

Several bracelets on one arm?

You see, I just love bracelets and often wear several braceletes at once on one arm. But my friend and mum think that it is a sign of bad taste. What do you think? I usually combine either two identical bracelets only of different color or wear combinations like these:
1. http://cgi.ebay.com/Two-Tone-Carved-Wooden-Bangle-Bracelet-2-1-2-Like-New_W0QQitemZ120155546358QQihZ002QQcategoryZ92699QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
plus something like these
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ukrainian-Folk-Art-4-Wooden-Bead-Bracelets-Bracelet_W0QQitemZ250159226355QQihZ015QQcategoryZ92727QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or

2. two like this http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Wooden-Flower-Bracelet-from-Hawaii_W0QQitemZ320152753846QQihZ011QQcategoryZ92727QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
with something like this
http://cgi.ebay.com/3PC-Faceted-Lucite-Plastic-Bracelet-Bangles-Cuff_W0QQitemZ190147117600QQihZ009QQcategoryZ92699QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

According to some magazines I read,
"One or two bracelets are cute, but an armful is beautiful."

I doubt I've ever seen 'beautiful' synonymous with 'bad taste'.

Carved Jade Floral Bangle Bracelet

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