Jewelry & Accessories

Top Desi Wedding Jewelry Vendors in Texas - Dallas, Houston, Austin

Your wedding jewelry complements and elevates your dream outfit. Whether it’s a trendy kundan choker or your must-have mangal sutra, your bridal accessories will be the cherry on top of your big-day look! The Desi Bride has curated Indian, Pakistani, and other South Asian jewelers and brands to provide you with the best wedding jewelry and accessory options.  

Fun fact, did you know that many Indian brides, traditionally, followed 16 steps encompassing head-to-toe bridal adornments to transcend from being single to becoming married, a process called ‘solah shringar’? Historically, Indian queens would wear these 16 adornments to symbolize their marriage on their wedding day and whenever they made public appearances. You may recognize one or more of the 16 adornments below and that most of these are all about jewelry:

  1. Bindi (dot on the forehead)

  2. Sindoor (red powder applied where the bride parts her hair)

  3. Kaajal or kohl (charcoal eyeliner)

  4. Mehendi or henna

  5. Itraa or Ittar (perfume)

  6. Shaadi (Suhaagan) ka Jodaa (wedding lehenga or saree)

  7. Maang Teeka / Maatha Patti or Jhoomar: This accessory extends from the center parting until the bride’s forehead and has a centerpiece or pendant that rests on the forehead. Jhoomars are worn on the side of the head and include an A-line made of beads or pearls usually.

  8. Nath (nose ring)

  9. Haar: Typically a mangalsutra, this necklace of black and gold beads is an auspicious thread that symbolizes uniting two souls.

  10. Karnphool / Jhumka / Chandbaali (earrings)

  11. Choodiyaan (bangles)

  12. Baajuband (armlet or bracelets worn on the upper part of the bride’s arm)

  13. Aarsi evam haathphool: Hathphool is made of eight rings worn on all eight fingers, except the thumbs, and are joined to a hand centerpiece extending to a bangle or bracelet. Aarsi is a thumb ring, usually with a mirror on top.

  14. Keshapasharachna: These are hair accessories for braids (billas) or buns (Raakodi / Jooda pins). Contemporary ornaments may include floral bun wraps, ornate combs, clips or barrettes with precious stones.

  15. Kamarband (waistband)

  16. Payal evam bichua (anklets and toe rings)

Bridal jewelry in South India:

  1. Oddiyanam: Waist belt made of silver or gold

  2. Kasu Mala: Traditional long necklace made of small coins

  3. Manga Mala or Malai: Mango-shaped long necklace that goes until the bride’s navel and is made of paisley motifs

  4. Metti: Toe ring made of silver with two or three rounds.

  5. Vanki: Arm bands or armlets with intricate center pieces surrounded by carvings

  6. Kolusu: Anklets made of silver

  7. Mookkuthi: Nose studs worn on right side of the nostril or on both the sides.

  8. Valaai or Valayal: Bangles made of glass, gold or silver

  9. Jimikki or Jhimki: Earrings shaped like umbrella or inverted baskets

  10. Thalaisamaan: Complete head jewelry set with maatha patti (strip worn on center hair parting), center piece or pendant that rests on the forehead and two hair brooches – one shaped like the sun and the other like moon.

  11. Jadanagam: Hair jewelry used over the braid

  12. Ungila: Gold rings worn in fingers

 

FAQ

 

What should I think about before buying Desi wedding jewelry?

 

How can I make sure to match my jewelry with my bridal gown, saree or lehenga?

  1. Match the colors and details of your outfit: If you are wearing a saree with zari or golden threadwork, then opt for a matching set in gold or platinum accordingly. A lehenga choli with white and green stones or beads may actually go better with fashion or costume jewelry in Kundan compared to a gold set, but sarees with bold golden borders such as Paithani sarees will look even more graceful with gold jewelry.

  2. Reference your face shape: Your face shape can be a balancing factor while choosing wedding jewelry. While oval face shapes match most types of jewelry, square faces go well with chunky necklaces and heavy jhumkas. Finally, medium-length earrings with contemporary style necklace complement round faces.

  3. Match your chooda or bangles with your bridal outfit: Whether you choose to wear pink, red, or maroon chooda should depend on the color of your wedding dress. Similarly, gold or glass bangles complement salwar-kameez and sharaara’s whereas chunky bangles or kadas may pair more elegantly with lehengas.

  4. Contrast colors: Instead of going for red on red, opt for contrasting colors to make sure your accessories stand on their own. Think emerald on orange or green pearls on red. Alternatively, you pair gold and Kundan for a traditional look. 

  5. Consider necklines: Chokers go well with high necklines whereas wider necks pair well with heavy danglers. V-shaped necklines looked great with layered necklaces, and off-shoulder dresses or gowns look enticing with multi-colored neck pieces and a heavy-set maang teeka or jhoomar.

  6. Minimalistic is always in: Same shade of jewelry and dress will draw attention to the face, so if you are looking for an all eyes on you, you can always opt for ivory or pastels with gold or silver in both your lehenga / saree and jewelry.

  7. Diamonds never get old: If you are ready to dazzle, consider diamonds with gota patti. You can always pair diamonds with colored stones to match your lehenga or saree.

 

What are the different types of South Asian jewelry?

  1. Fashion jewelry: Also known as costume, artificial, or faux jewelry, fashion jewelry is an inexpensive alternative and goes well with any contemporary outfit. It is not made up of any precious or semi-precious metal and is instead, made of nickel or brass with a light plating perhaps and synthetic stones. Given the lower cost and much larger variety in styles and colors, couples will often get 1-2 pieces of real jewelry and opt for costume jewelry to match a majority of their outfits.

  2. Filigree jewelry: Ornate jewelry with beads and threads or wires molded to form artistic patterns or motifs, usually worn with traditional outfits especially long and flowing ones.

  3. Kundan jewelry: Kundan in Sanskrit means pure gold. Kundan jewelry typically uses 24 karat gold foil between the mount and gemstones or other precious stones such as emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and pearls. It is an elaborate and layered creation.

  4. Jadau jewelry: Jadau is the technique used for creating kundan or polki jewelry. In this creation, precious stones are embedded, engraved, and set in gold, handcrafted by artisans.  

  5. Meenakari: Meenakari includes painting with enamel in various colors. It comes from Gujarat and is often showcased on Kundan jewelry on the back of gemstones or painted intricately on the jewelry set. 

  6. Polki jewelry: Uncut or unfinished raw diamonds that are untouched by machines are used to create polki jewelry. The natural diamonds are placed with the help of gold foil.

  7. Navratna jewelry: As the name suggests, this type of jewelry is made of nine gems representing the nine planets in Indian astrology. The nine gems include: Ruby or Manek for the sun, Pearl or Moti for the moon, Coral or Mangal for Mars, Emerald or Panna for Mercury, Yellow Sapphire or Pukhraj for Jupiter, Diamond or Heera for Venus, Blue Sapphire or Neelam for Saturn, Hessonite or Gomed for Rahu, Cat’s Eye or Lahsunya for Ketu.

 

What questions should I ask for custom order jewelry for Desi weddings?

 

Should I travel to India to purchase my jewels?

Apart from the stones and gold, labor is one of the expensive components of authentic jewelry. Given that labor is much cheaper in India, if you are looking at price, then shopping for jewelry in India or jewelry in Pakistan may hurt your pocket a little less. With that said, many of the large jewelers have their designs made in India and are able to offer customization and services here in Texas, so you don’t have to travel far but can also take your time in making a decision and design your dream jewelry set or wedding bands with these wonderful brands.

 

What options of jewelry are there for Indian or Desi grooms?

 

Should I insure my wedding jewelry?

It depends on the cost of the jewelry and how likely you think you are to lose or damage it. Considering that thousands of dollars are spent on engagement rings alone, insurance is always a good-to-have. You can ask the jewelry store or your current home insurance about insuring jewelry. Often, wedding jewelry is covered in the renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies. Make sure to check for the following:

 

What questions should I ask the jeweler before buying an engagement ring?

 

What types of engagement rings are trending for women in 2021?

For women, there are traditional, classic or vintage, minimalistic, and contemporary styles of engagement rings to choose from. Each style complements the personality of a woman, whether she is a go-getter who is not afraid to speak her mind or the one who oozes a quiet confidence. You can couple the stones with bands in platinum, white, yellow or rose gold for added accents. Here are a few styles to choose from:

 

How should I take care of bridal or wedding jewelry?

 

What should I think about while buying a diamond ring or other diamond jewelry?

Diamonds have a charisma that is unparalleled. They sparkle bright and earn a place in your heart, forever! Here are a few tips to help you buy the right diamond engagement ring, bracelet, necklace, or even ‘build your own’ set without overpaying:

  1. Select a shape: Diamonds come in all shapes: oval, pear, rectangular (emerald), heart, or round.

  2. Prioritize 4Cs: Instead of solely focusing on the size of the diamond look at all 4 Cs – cut, color, clarity and carat. While carat is what most talk about, the reality is that the other 3 C’s are just as important. The cut will actually dictate how “sparkly” the diamond is. There is a tradeoff in cost, so you may decide to go for a slightly lower carat diamond but higher clarity – understand what is important and look beyond just the carat. In general, diamonds should have a clarity grade of VS1 or VS2. Pro tip: A diamond should appear colorless (range of G to I on the GIA color scale) when you see it in person. 

  3. The setting of diamond matters: If you opt for an elevated setting like solitaires have, the diamond will look bigger, whereas if you choose a depressed setting, the diamond will actually look smaller.

  4. Choose the carat weight: Traditionally, the carat weight for an engagement ring averages between 1.0 to 1.2 carats. Here, you will want to visit the 4C’s and determine whether you opt for a large carat or a different cut or clarity instead.

  5. Reference the diamond grading report: A diamond grading report will give you the exact characteristics of the diamond and whether it has been specially treated to enhance the color or clarity. In short, the report gives you a surety of the diamond’s authenticity and source. Also, if you are planning to get your diamonds insured, then the report is important to have on hand.

  6. Budget: Recently, in the U.S., the average engagement ring has cost $5,000 upwards.

 

Should I buy an engagement ring online or in-store?

Purchasing diamonds online

Purchasing diamonds from in-store

Bottom line: Whether you’re buying online or on-site, make sure you purchase only high-quality, GIA or AGS certified diamonds. Also, even if you decide to purchase online, we recommend going to a couple of stores to try on rings and figure out the style and setting you prefer.

 

What are the options for men’s wedding bands?

 

Who are the top South Asian wedding jewelry shops in Texas?

Click the below links to find your wedding jewelry set. 

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