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The Resplendent Manga Mala
One of the most popular South Indian styles is the Manga Mala. It is an elegant piece of jewellery originating in Kerala and is traditionally used in Hindu weddings. This neckpiece, with its pendant resembling the shape of a mango, is made with gold and is studded with glistening coloured glass and stunning stones. The flowering mango tree is a symbol of fertility, prosperity, and love in India, and this belief is the inspiration behind the design of this luxurious piece. The result is a stunning piece of gold jewellery that is an integral part of most traditional Indian weddings – a representation of ever-blooming love, happiness and prosperity that is to come to the newlyweds as they begin their life together. The traditional manga mala is a timeless classic whose versatility is only limited by our imagination. This spectacular design comes in a myriad of different styles. The classic design of the manga mala is often embedded with scintillating diamonds, semi-precious stones, and pretty pearls. This dazzling variation enhances the value and the beauty of this stunning necklace”.
The Evergreen Appeal of Classic Closed Setting
The closed setting is a style of encasing natural diamonds in a gold foil so that no part of the stone below the girdle is exposed to light. Just like every masterpiece, this setting is the result of persistence and patience, as it requires the artisan's time to hand-cut the natural diamonds and set them into the underlying structure. It is this exquisite craftsmanship that has made this setting shine with popularity in South India. The craftsman lays the base of the setting by intricately drawing small circles on a gold sheet. They then drill holes over the design layout where the diamonds can be added. Once the base of the ornament is laid, the craftsman inserts the drilled jewellery pieces into molten wax holders. They then manually insert the beautiful real diamonds into the drilled setting. To add lustre to the jewellery, the edges are sawed carefully. Lastly, in their labour of love, the jewellery pieces are cleaned and polished to elevate their pristine shine.
Bottu Mala - The opulent classic of South India
One of the classic South Indian pieces is Bottu Mala. Bottu means a blob of something. The coin-shaped pieces are attached to an ornamental chain forming a mala of the bottu/coins hence the name Bottu mala. This necklace looks similar to the Kasu Mala. The difference is, in the Bottu Mala necklace coin shaped ornaments are strung together whereas in Kasumala coins are assembled together. They are usually carved with Lakshmi motifs or encrusted with precious stones like diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Bottu Mala used to be a long haram and a popular necklace among the royals of South India. Similar necklaces are found in Maharashtra too with different detailing on the coins.