Wedding is considered as un-complete without wedding jewellery – irrespective of the income or social group. The difference is the materials out which the jewels are crafted –leather, stone, lac, iron, copper, silver or gold with beads or precious stones ranging from humble shells to the diamonds. Even thread can be twisted into a wrist or neck band.

In tribal communities in the not too distant past human bones and skeletons were part of the traditional wedding jewellery.When personal land holdings were a dominant factor in the economy the daughter was given jewels and the son the land.

This prevented the parceling of the landed property while the daughter was not deprived. The wedding jewellery was the personal property of the bride – her security life line in terms of wealth.The wedding jewellery was a pointer to the social status of the bride. In some communities gold is given more importance then gems while in others silver is of importance. Cash could never replace the importance and dignity of jewels when it cam to wedding jewellery.

The wedding jewellery is valued not only for its aesthetic and ritual value as well as rarity. The wearing of wedding jewellery endows the bride with power coupled with authority apart from enhancing her beauty.Gold wedding jewellery has a special place in marriage rituals.

Indian brides wear mangal sutra, ear rings, bangles, rings and nose rings made of gold studded with gems. On the feet toe rings and anklets are made of silver as there is a superstition about gold touching the feet. Armlets and waistbands are traditional but after being absent for many years are making a come back.

Rings are the most common part of wedding jewellery both for the bride and the groom. The toe ring is put on the bride by the groom. In eastern India the bride has to wear bangles made out of white conch shells as well as a single bangle of iron that may or may not be covered with gold or silver.

The typical mangal sutra consists of gold beads interspersed with black beads. The thaalis are tied with a thick yellow thread that are replaced after use.

The idea of bands on fingers is a vital part of wedding jewellery that has caught on globally. These may be in silver, gold or platinum with or without encrusted gems. Tiaras make the bride feel like a queen for a day. Depending on the budget these too come in ornate aesthetic designs to hold the wedding veil shrouding the bride in timeless mystery.