Jewellery Guides

Plain answers about imitation jewellery — what it is, how to size it, how to care for it, and what to wear when.

• What Is Imitation Jewellery? — Imitation jewellery is gold- or silver-plated jewellery built on a brass or alloy base. Here is how it is made, how it differs from gold-filled and solid gold, and how long it lasts.
• What Is a Mugappu Chain? — A mugappu chain is a South Indian chain with a decorative side pendant — the mugappu — worn on the chain rather than hanging at the centre. How it is worn, and how it differs from a plain chain.
• Haram vs Necklace: Which One to Wear — A haram is the long South Indian chain that falls to the stomach; a necklace sits at the collar. How the two differ in length, weight and occasion, and how they are worn together.
• How to Care for Gold-Plated Jewellery — Gold plating is a surface layer, so it wears from contact rather than from age. Practical care: what to keep it away from, how to clean it, how to store it, and when to re-plate.
• South Indian Bangle Size Guide (2.4 to 2.10) — South Indian bangles use sizes 2.4, 2.6, 2.8 and 2.10. How to measure your hand at home in two minutes and pick the right size, including what to do if you fall between sizes.
• Jewellery for a South Indian Wedding: What to Wear — What the bride wears, and what guests wear, at a South Indian wedding — piece by piece, from maang tikka and jimikki to haram, vanki and oddiyanam.