By Mridu Khullar Relph in New Delhi
With the festival season powering ahead at full steam in India and Diwali just passed, Anmol Jewellers is celebrating the victory of good over evil with the new 'Temples of India' collection.
By placing Lord Ganesh and Goddess Laxmi at the centre of the jewels, this luxury Indian jeweller has imbibed the collection with the traditions of Diwali, a time of gratitude for wealth and prosperity, and the modern celebration of gifting jewellery and bringing new statuettes of the Gods - especially Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the lord of success - into the house.
The six necklaces and two pendants are handcrafted in 22ct gold with either a Laxmi or a Ganesh idol at the centre, with a generous sprinking of rubies and emeralds. Elaborate and detailed, the idols are crafted using the repousse technique, which involves hammering on the reverse side of the gold to create a raised design on the front.
In keeping with the temples theme, the designs utilise a classic form of Indian jewellery making known as kundan, in which gems are set with gold foil between the stones. The style, one of the oldest forms of jewellery made and worn in India, originated centuries ago in the palaces of Rajasthan and Gujarat and can be seen in temples throughout the country. The collection is generously embellished with kundan and pearls, a reflection of the lavishness and grandeur of these ancient places of worship.
The whole collection remains true to tradition and the culture of celebration, while being rooted firmly in the present. With the wedding season just beginning, Anmol's Temples of India jewels would make the perfect adornment for any bride to be.
