Jhomar:

All the traditional brides wear Jhomar. Generally it is worn on the left side of the forehead. This item is normally matched with the tikka and other items included in the bridal sets.

Religious pieces:

Lockets, Rings and bracelets are often decorated with inscriptions from Quran. These items are very popular in our society as religion plays an integral part of our society and wear tear. Both men and women wear these items.

Jewellery carries a significant value worldwide. Pakistan can boast of a heritage that of jewellery manufacturing that extends back prior to its creation. Its craftsmen have spent timeless energy and creativity in the invention of artistic ornaments. These jewellery pieces over the centuries have satisfied universal longing for embellishment.

Pakistan is a part of sub-continent region where jewellery has been worn and traded through out the centuries. Marriage and religion are inseparable in our culture and provide major motivation for use of traditional ornaments. By custom every bride is provided with dowry whose composition and value depends upon economic circumstances.

Pakistani home market for jewellery is very strong and jewellery features high in domestic budgets. Due to the existing substantial domestic market the industry has a large pool of experienced workers and a substantial level of hand skills. This industry is a full-fledged large-scale organized industry. Pakistan’s jewellery industry is composed of over 25,000 retailers/manufacturing concerns and has a workforce of over 0.5 million skilled/semi-skilled craftsmen. The jewellery trade in Pakistan is involves a large turnover of jewellery worth million of dollars on annual basis. In 2002 alone Pakistan imported 120 tons of gold bullion to fulfill the industry demand. (Source: World Gold Council)

Matha-pati is another ornament that is use for the beautification of a bride’s forehead, of which a tikka is an integral part. This item is usually demanded by traditional brides and is a replacement of individual items of tikka and Jhomar. Traditional matha-pati is made in kundan and pearls.

Buttons are available in every medium, whether plain or studded. These traditional ornaments are among the favorite items adorned by ladies. Traditional set of three or four buttons linked with chains and dangling balls is very popular.

Tikka is a composite ornament composed of a chain with a hook at one end and a pendant at the other that is worn in the parting of the hair. This ornament is specifically associated with women about to undertake the vows of matrimony. Thus, it represents the ultimate union where no dualities exist. This ornament is very popular among brides and is manufactured in different sizes and shapes normally a studded gold item.

Mostly plain silver payal is popular among girls and women – a delicate chain with hanging bells/beads. Portraying the bindings of a female or the desire to bind herself on her counter-part, by creating an aura of attraction through tantalizing sounds produced by the ghunghroos (little bells). Although the society has progressed but this item is one of the most demanded items of young girls in Sub-continent.

The nose was once believed to be the 'seat' of the sixth sense. Indeed amongst the many jewels with which the woman adorns herself, the nose-pin (nath) is the perhaps the most seductive. Ornaments for the nose take on a variety of shapes ranging from tiny jeweled studs resting on the curve of the nostril, to large gold hoops that encircle the cheek with graceful pendant pearls dangling provocatively just above the upper lip. There is a great variety in their shapes and sizes to cater the demand of ladies.

Indeed more than any other single jewellery form in Sub-continent, the bangle has been crafted from the widest variety of materials. Ancient fragments testify that bangles were made from terracotta, stone, shell, copper, bronze, gold and silver. Lac and glass bangles in a plethora of colors are a common sight in Pakistan. From simple plain circlets of metal, to ones decorated with engraved designs, to the ones studded with gems, these circlets are thought to symbolize the potent energy of the sun.

In the sub-continent region it is a tradition to wear the bangles/bracelet/karhay. Every festivity starts with a gift of bangles, with every lady/girl having her arms covered with beautifully designed glass, silver or gold bangles. The simple desire to wear matching colored glass bangles eventually leads to purchasing of gold bangles/karhay.

The sheer variety of bangles of Pakistan is matchless anywhere in the world. Besides being a mark of a married woman, these portray enormous romantic feelings. The tinkling sound of women's bangles is full of significant messages expressing her presence, her wish for attention, her anger or desire to impress others.

he simple ring is not ignored in the vast array of larger ornaments. Fingers are believed to function as a medium between the physical body and the spiritual body. Rings thus are an important part of the physio-metaphysical value of jewellery.

Rings include Chalay/bands, engagement rings and studded rings. Of all the jewellery items the ring is the most intimate and symbolically charged form. An unbroken circle signifies eternity, so as a token of friendship, love and marriage. The ring has no equal.

The neck is an important occult center. Because necklaces are often worn near the heart, they represent emotions such as strengthening of love. Wearing a string of gemstones is considered to be binding oneself with their healing and mystical powers.

In the sub-continent region there is a huge variety of ornaments that beautify the neckline. Chains, pendants, choker, guloband, etc all are included in this category. Normally such items can be paired with matching earrings. Whether the style is plain, menakari, polki or studded - all styles cater dazzling combinations that offer a diversified range of unique products.
Necklaces are manufactured in various mediums including precious/semi-precious gemstones and precious metals (yellow and white gold, silver and platinum) that together create charm and charisma even in the simplest setting. Designed to extenuate the gemstones by maximizing the capture of light. The use of more than one metal in a single piece is becoming popular, catering to the emerging need of the customers.

Early sculptures demonstrate that ear ornaments were an important constituent of Pakistani female attire. To the married woman, the ear ornament was (and is) auspicious. Additionally a woman's wealth was conspicuously visible and the ear ornament became a statement of her status and power; elongated ear lobes were considered a sign of beauty and wealth - the longer the lobe, the greater the woman's wealth. Ghumkay, which are tailored on these concepts are the most popular ornaments adorned by the sub-continent bride.

The variety in earrings includes studs/tops, baliyan, ghumkay or hanging earrings. Their designs usually originate from the traditional background, comprising of floral and geometrical motives. However, the collage of traditional and modern designs is also becoming more popular with local customers. Ranging from classic plain designs to glimmering studded items, the finished products exhibit unforgettable designs.

Rarely a traditional ornament is simply decorative and devoid of inherent meaning or symbolic value. Symbols found in Pakistani jewellery act as a metaphorical language communicated from the wearer to the viewer. Such jewellery is created from an infinite reserve of symbolically significant forms and images, some obvious, some subtle, and some whose meaning is forgotten.

The impulse to adorn stems from a deep-rooted sensibility to mark every occasion of life. Thus a fully bedecked Pakistani woman evokes in the viewer a deep and ingratiating feeling of tranquil contentment, springing from an intuitive realization that evolving is an image of perfect beauty, symbolically conveying the richness and completeness which is but natural to nature.

Nature has always been an integral part of human life. With the advent of civilization, the inspiration for poetic and spiritual awakening took place. Jewellery in Subcontinent has been an unbroken tradition for over 5000 years. Such is the skill of Pakistani jewelers that the use of elements of nature like flowers, leaves, trees, fruits, birds and animals are profusely depicted in all the jewellery designs.

Pakistan has experienced variety of religious, social and political influences, which are reflected in jewellery designs and styles. The present Pakistan jewellery is the combination of the jewellery of the villages, which is reminiscent of the ornaments of Moenjodaro and Harrapa-a and Mughal Emperors. Wealth of ornaments was unearthed during excavations at the ancient sites of Moenjodaro and the Indus Valley civilization. It consisted of jewellery both for men and women made in gold, silver, copper, Ivory and precious and semiprecious stones. Jewellery has been always a part of the religion and culture of the society. From a bead string used for prayers to a necklace, jewellery in Pakistan is not only varied in style but also in its function.

The traditional jewellery of Pakistan is timeless and hand-made. Traditional ethnic jewellery is made to withstand daily usage. The craft of making jewellery is confined to specific groups and casts of people called "sonars". Sonars inherit the skill and methods by direct descent handed down from father to son at a very young age, a tradition that has survived for centuries.

The jewelers use different techniques. These designs and modes of techniques vary from region to region and the material used. The most popular technique is "Kundan", which was introduced by Mughals in 16th century. The Kundan technique is used for forming very delicate stuff. The jewellery produced by this technique is famous for its grace and beauty.

Cubic Zirconias and moissanite have just one thing in common, they are both jewels. Of course they can both be used to make pretty jewellery but other then that they are just both jewels. Cubic Zirconias are good sellers when it comes to the jewellery market. They are fairly cheap to purchase and they are just as cheap to maintain. After all you do not want to buy jewellery and then watch it fade away after a few months. Cubic zirconias and moissanite are actually pretty hard to get a hold of. Many jewellers do find it hard to keep up with the demand for these jewels. Which can be strange because they are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Cubic Zirconias are as already stated cheap to purchase, whereas moissanite is very expensive to purchase. If you want to go all out and buy moissanite diamonds jewellery then you are going to be paying a lot for that pleasure.

Moissanite diamonds sets of jewellery are just as hard to get hold of as moissanite jewellery itself. However these moissanite diamonds are the greatest pieces of jewellery that you can purchase. These moissanite diamonds will have diamonds around the outside and the moissanite itself will be the centre piece. Imagine the look on that special someone’s face when they open their present to see a gorgeous moissanite diamonds ring. There is nothing else better to give to someone for their special day. You can get moissanite diamonds engagement rings, wedding rings and even anniversary rings. So for that ultimate special occasion you can be prepared and by giving your partner a stunning gift like a moissanite diamonds ring you know that this gift will be greatly appreciated by the recipient.

Cubic Zirconias also have the same effect on the recipient. They do look very nice and cubic zirconias can also be used on rings and pendants. If you do not know much about jewels then you can easily confuse a cubic zirconia jewel for a diamond jewel. But you will notice the difference when you feel the weight of each of these jewels. A cubic zirconia is 3 times more heavier then a diamond jewel and this means that almost anyone can tell the difference between a cubic zirconia and a diamond when they hold them. But when looking at them it is almost impossible to tell the difference if you do not know what to look for.

With the cost of diamonds soaring to record highs and the huge influence of ‘bling’ on today’s fashion scene, Cubic Zirconia jewellery is seeing a huge rise in popularity. Cubic Zirconia is probably the closest man made material to the looks, hardness and feel of real diamond. But few people know what it is or how it’s made so here’s a brief summary for those interested…

Zirconium in its pure form is actually a chemical element that can be found in the periodic table. For those interested it has an Atomic Number of 40. However, although a naturally occurring element and metal, it is not found in its pure form and instead forms a part of several minerals, the most common being Zirconium Silicate which is mined heavily in the USA, Australia, India, Brazil and Russia.

Zirconium was discovered in 1789 by the German chemist Martin Klaproth, although he did not manage to isolate the element. This was achieved in 1824 by Jons Jakob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist, with pure Zirconium first prepared in 1914. Pure Zirconium is a greyish-white metal that is used in a wide range of industrial processes including heavy use by the Nuclear industry due to its hardness, heat resistance and non-reactive properties. These characteristics also help to make it ideal for jewellery.

Obviously a grey-white metal would hardly make an ideal substitute diamond so the raw material needs processing to produce the clarity required for jewellery. To do this high purity zirconium oxide powders, stabilized with magnesium and calcium, are heated to very high temperatures until they melt together, crystalising and clarifying on cooling to produce a clear, hard substance with properties similar to diamond and suitable for use in jewellery. During this process small amounts of other chemicals can also be added to produce different coloured crystals.

Although ‘close’ to real diamond, there are obviously small different between Cubic Zirconia and diamond including hardness and brilliance. The naked eye finds it hard to differentiate between the two, however true diamond does have an increased refractive index (the ability to refract a ray of light into its component colours). Cubic Zirconia (CZ) has a refractive index of around 2.16, whereas diamond has an index value of 2.42. As I say, although this is difficult to pickup with the naked eye it does mean that true diamond will always ‘sparkle’ just that little bit more when properly cut.

The hardness of the two materials is also different. As most people are aware, diamond is an incredibly hard material and often used for industrial cutting and grinding processes. In fact diamond tops the hardness scale with a value of 10 whereas CZ is a little lower at around 8.7.

Hardly exciting reading I know but the above at least gives a little insight in to where CZ comes from and why it remains so popular for Jewellery. At the end of the day it simply looks good and can be purchased without breaking the bank.