Differences between Kundan, Polki, Meenakari and Jadau

Kundan – As mentioned earlier, a lot of people tend to confuse this with other forms of jewelry. This type of jewelry however, uses glass, not diamonds, set in the gold

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Polki – Polki is very similar to Kundan in terms of technique. However, the real difference here is that instead of glass, uncut diamonds are used to create the jewelry. This makes Polki sets much more expensive but also that much more lustrous.

Meenakari–A very famous style brought to India from Persia and perfected by the Sonar or Sohail caste of Kshatriyas, this process involves the creation of intricate and colourful designs on the front or back of an ornament using enamels of different colours. An elaborate process by itself, meenakari can be worked on Kundan jewelry or stand alone.

Jadau–This is actually not a type of jewelry like Kundan and Polki. However, it is often confused with those two. Jadau is a type of technique used to create jewelry. In this technique, the jewelry is made by softening gold and then setting precious stones on to it. When the gold hardens, the stones adhere to it without the help of any adhesive.

Actually any type of jewelry looks great in this style. A simple necklace with a pendant, a choker, light and heavy earrings, chandbalis, bracelets, rings and sometimes even toe rings. The association of Kundan with royalty in people’s minds ensures that there is a great demand for this type of work all over the country. The Indian wedding season, which lasts from September to January, only heightens the demand. The enduring popularity of Kundan is also augmented by Bollywood movies, the most famous examples being ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and ‘Ram Leela’, in which actors Aishwarya Rai and Deepika Padukone, respectively, wore elaborate jewelry in this style. And who can forget the timeless Rekha in the classic ‘Umrao Jaan?’

How Much Does It Cost : While Kundan is less expensive than Polki due to the presence of glass instead of uncut diamonds, it is by no means cheap. Jewelry pieces can start from a minimum of Rs.50, 000. The price is dependent upon the type of stone being used. Obviously pieces that use glass stones will be cheaper than those that employ rubies, emeralds or sapphires.For those who are unable to spend this much, a reasonable alternative is imitation Kundan jewelry. This is the same thing except without the 24 carat gold. Instead metals such as silver or even copper are used, making this type of jewelry much more affordable.

How Do I Differentiate Between Imitation And The Real Thing : Of course, the popularity of Kundan has its downside – namely, the possibility that you are being cheated. So how can one tell the difference between real and fake? Here are a few ways.
•  Look for the BIS hallmark. This consists of the BIS logo, a three digit number that indicates the purity of the gold, the logo of the assaying center, a code that tells you the date of hallmarking and the logo or code of the jeweller.
•  If you’ve bought silver jewelry and it hasn’t changed colour after a few weeks, it’s fake. However, if you’ve bought gold and it changes colour, it isn’t gold.
•  The magnet test can also work on certain fakes. Simply bring a magnet close to the jewelry. If the ornament is attracted to the magnet it is fake. 

The popularity of Kundan work has endured for centuries and has only increased in the last few years. This is not surprising considering the regality and beauty of the jewelry. Even a simple set can bestow an air of royalty from a bygone era upon the wearer.