There is a variety of jewellery made in India. Seeds and grasses are used in some places and gold and intricately worked silver ornaments in some places. Kundan and Meenakari work are highly specialised skills. Beads of a great variety is produced. The materials vary from terracotta, to seeds, grasses, glass, lac, bone, silver. The skill of putting together or the stringing of the beads is unique to the ‘patwa’.
Overview of Techniques involved
1. Sourcing and Transporting raw materials and creation of wax model
- Metal
- Tools and accessories
2. Melting & sheet casting
- The first step in this process is annealing or heating the metal at a predetermined temperature.
- Simultaneously the final design drawign is also prepared.
- Once the gold or silver is melted, this is poured into a sheet mold so that this can be molded into a small bar.
3. Sawing and cutting
- The second step involves forming the gold or silver into its desired shape
4. Soldering & Assembling
- The different parts of the jewelry being made are arranged or joined together by soldering in order to complete the design
5. Filling & forming
- The edges and corners of the completed jewelry are polished using different types of files.
- Stonesetting involves the insertion or mounting of precious or semi-precious stones in the gold or silver jewelery.
6. Polishing & plating
- Polishing and plating are done to enhance the jewelry’ brilliance with the help of a polishing motor.