Pachchikam Jewelry

In the world of fashion and design, old trends tend to come over again and again, though with slight changes. Pachchikam jewelry making craft is one of the examples of jewelry that has come back once again. Originated in Gujarat and Kutch, centuries ago, Pachchikam jewelry has again become popular.The exquisite appeal of Pachchikam or Pachhi jewelry has helped it acquire a vogue status in the contemporary world. This centuries-old Indian jewelry art has suddenly been revived by contemporary jewelry designers.  This handcrafted jewelry art, which was once adorned only by the European Royalty ( in the early 16th century)  is now fast replacing traditional gold ornaments and is a big hit amongst the youth. Pachchikam bangles, earrings, necklaces, armlets, trinkets and head gears have already become wardrobe staples.

Resemblance to Kundan : Pachchikam bears striking resemble to Kundan jewelry of Jaipur as both involve elaborate stonework using single un-cut diamonds known as Polkis and other semi-precious stones. But on closer inspection, one can notice that Pachchikam appears to be cruder and is more fragile as compared to Kundan.  Also, usually silver is chosen as a base for Pachchikam, while Kundan setting is done in gold foil. The former is cheaper than the latter and has a close resemblance to platinum.t is believed that this craft style was developed by the artisans of Kutch centuries ago, but there are also accounts stating that the Pachchikam jewelry was adorned by European nobility in the early 16th century. So, only a little is known about the history of Pachchikam jewelry. Moreover, it is believed that the new version of Pachchikam is a fusion of both as it seems to have a strong ethnic background, but also looks like the type of jewelry typically spotted in portraits of British dignitaries. Another theory suggests that the basic art of Pachchikam jewelry reached the shores of India as a result of strong trade and commerce links with the Europeans and the ingenious Indian craftsmen customised it to look like Indian art.

Materials Used : Typically, silver is used as a base for designing Pachchikam jewelry as it highly malleable and lustrous. Also, this setting encases various un-cut precious and semi-precious gemstones in addition to glasswork. The fabrication of this jewelry takes place in Kutch, using a number of techniques that have trickled down from one generation to another. The word Pachchikam seems to be derived from the word Pachchigar, meaning a goldsmith. The process of crafting a Pachchikam ornament is complex, labour intensive and time-consuming. Firstly, a silver encasing is made for Pachchikam jewelry setting. During this step, silver is melted and pushed into suitable moulds for shaping. Next, semi-precious stones are inserted in this casing to create a suitable pattern. Then, the grooves are filed on it. This is how a handcrafted piece of Pachchikam jewelry becomes ready to be adorned by the royalty.The charm and aesthetic appeal of this art lies in its inherent crudeness. Also, this art appears to be heavy and used to be only worn on special occasions and festivities. However, the modern generation creates a good match of it even with their western dresses and look fabulous adorning itSince each ornament is hand crafted, it is difficult to recreate the same design over again to the very bits. Also, the artisans who are highly conservative prefer to stick to their age-old patterns instead of experimenting with new ones. Further, this setting cannot be mass-produced, which makes it all the more exclusive. The exclusivity of the designs of Pachchikam jewelry makes it more sought after by the jewelry lovers who wish to look unique in the things they adorn.

Run-way Bride Look : Create a stunning bridal look, with affordable Pachchikam jewelry just the way a model did. She wore a golden-mustard coloured lehenga with pink outline and amped up her look with a trendy jaalidar Pachchikam piece that looked like it was lifted from the Jodha Akhbar era.  The encased pearl dangling in the middle of the necklace and the bottom of the jhumkis completely stole the show. Also, the matching bangles and ring completed the entire look.So, Pachchikam jewelry is a perfect choice for all kinds of occasions as it can be easily matched with any kind of dress if worn proportionately according to the attire. Whether for festive occasions or bridal look or for donning a perfect Indo-western look, Pachchikam jewelry has proved to be the right choice.Looking for something as flashy as Kundan, but more fragile? Then your search is over. Recently a model wore a royal blue sari with a set of Victorian style silver Pachchikam earrings and necklace, which looked perfect. The dangling ornamental flowers were a heart stealer and became a thing of love at first sight for women.