India is one of the top exporters of jewelry. Jewels of extreme beauty are crafted by gold and silversmiths of the country with unique skill and care. Indian tribal jewelry is significantly appreciated for it's tact in using flowers, leaves, creepers and fruits, metal and wood to design exquisite fashionable wear.



Jewelry is made for most every part of the body in India. Jewelry is also not something that is limited to humans in this culture. It's often found on horses and elephants which represent a ceremonial tone in expression of the gods. In this regard jewelry and religion are elegantly intertwined. An example of this union is the prayer bead or the rudraksh (berry of the elaocarpus canitrus) necklace. Often jewelry is worn in nomadic and migrant tribal communities as a representation of security and investment.

Even specific areas of India have styles of craft which is significant to them. In Orissa and Andhra Pradesh silver is particularly highlighted. Jaipur is the art most known for enameling or Meenakari. Temple jewelry is most expected from Nagercoil and Kundan or the expressive setting of precious stones in gold from Delhi. Silver beads are found in a wide variety of India. Patterns of leaves, flowers, butterflies, birds, and many geometrical shapes are crafted with silver wires in varied thickness.

Thinner wires are collected within the framework to create a fragile appearance like that of lace. Chokers and necklaces are prominent jewelry in the area of Mughals. Twenty four carat gold is mainly significant in Assam and used for earrings and necklaces of flora and fauna type. Human heads are imitated with long funnel shaped beads used in combination with shells, animal claws, and teeth in Nagaland.

Tamil Nadu and Kerala are expressive of nature. Rice grains, cobra's hoods, melon and cucumber seeds are popular motifs of the area. In Pradesh long earrings and noserings with papal leafs or bird motifs are the area of expertise. In Ladakh you are likely to find silver charm boxes and headdresses with lanes of turquoise, coral, and agate hand stitched onto it.

American Indian jewelry differs from that of the designs made in India. Turquoise is a significant stone in the crafting of this type of jewelry. Surprisingly it's not as readily available as one would think. Prehistoric Indians actually mined turquoise to turn it into jewelry which was primarily limited to drilled beads and other hanging ornament types.

Oyster shells were also another prominent use for jewelry. These acknowledgments lead us to understand that these skills developed at very primitive times and throughout the years have become more elegantly defined.

Navajo Indians introduced silver by making belts, bracelets, bow guards, tobacco flasks, and necklaces. Eventually these evolved into rings, earrings, pins, hair decor, and buckles often accompanied with turquoise.

Coral is another source appropriated in American Indian jewelry. It was created by colonies of the marine coral polyp. It's contracted from combinations of calcium carbonate and magnesium with the most appreciated forms came from the Mediterranean. Modernly, the highest quality red coral is found in the Sea of Japan. Jewelry of a deeper color would imply a more valued grade.

Perhaps sugilite is popular because of its varying ranges of color. In Japan it tends to dwell between a yellow and brown tone while in southern Africa it has a rich purple expression. It resembles the spiny oyster shell and can also be confused with charolite. The highest grades can costs more than eighty dollars a carat.

Charolite is a intensely popular purple stone. The range of color is massive and when prepared for the craft of jewelers it has a noticeable crystallized effect. Though it is inexpensive its gaining dominance and the deeper colors are priced at twenty dollars a carat.

Green stones are of course attractive additives to jewelry. Gaspeite is light, soft, and pleasant. Though it's found in Canada it's more populated in Australia. It's accompanied with matrix at times but really is displayed quite elegantly on its own. While American Indian Jewelry is not solely decorated with these unique gems they are attractively used in high esteem.