Indian Jewelry » Indian Fashion Jewelry

Fascinating Variety:
Indian jewellery as a whole presents a fascinating variety, in value as well as design and content. The motifs and patterns reflect different tastes which change from place to place. From the sophisticated, fabulous jewellery worth fortunes, to the common tribal adornments, it displays all the imagery, color and artistry that human ingenuity could employ in the eternal quest of beauty. In the creation of these ornaments, gold, silver, platinum, brass and many alloys are employed. Another interesting and noteworthy feature is the interplay of cultures. Influences from early Aryan culture to medieval Rajput, and later Moghul and British periods can be traced. Even Scythian, Parthian and Greek influences are discernible in some ancient finds. Most of the Indian village folks patronize heavy silver jewellery, while the city dwellers go in for gold ornaments. The elite own precious gem-studded jewellery. Costume jewellery is also popular.

Specialized Export Zones:
Spearheading India's latest fine jewellery thrust is the Santacruz Electronics Export' Processing Zone (SEEPZ), which was established on about 100 acres of land in Marol, an industrial area of Mumbai. The Zone was initially meant exclusively for 100 per cent export production of electronics. The electronics units did not perform very well, with few a exceptions. Some of the international giants like IBM, Unisys and Citicorp operate as joint venture companies.

In the mid-1980s, exports of gems, particularly cut and polished diamonds, increased substantially. During this time, Indian diamantaires identified the jewellery industry as a key growth area for exports. The trade approached the Government for allocation of an area for setting up units for 100 per cent exports. In 1986-87 it was decided to create a Gem & Jewellery Complex in SEEPZ for setting up 100 per cent export-oriented units of gems and jewellery items. Currently sixty units have received approval to set up units. About thirty units are already producing jewellery and others are in the process of importing equipment. The Zone employs about 14,000 workers including about 4,000 to 5,000 in the gems and jewellery industry.

Infrastructural Facilities:
Plots of land are available for those who desire to build factories according to their own designs. The Zone also offers ready-built space in the standard factory buildings on a five year renewable lease basis. There are four such complexes ready. In the first complex, the area of each unit is approximately 4,000 sq. ft. and in the three complexes which were built later, each unit is approximately 7,000 sq.ft. A total of approximately 400,000 sq. ft. of floor area is available for the gems and jewellery complex. All facilities such as customs, post office and warehousing are available within the complex.