Basra pearls are natural saltwater pearls found in the Persian Gulf. Sold in the Basra region of Iraq, they were an important item of trade on the silk route. Much like the other categories of natural pearls, they are also made up of layers of nacre. They have an asymmetric spherical shape, making them remarkably…
With the demise of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8th, 2022, this historic Elizabethan era ended. Netizens from Africa and India are in uproar, asking for the Crown jewels to be returned; particularly the Kohinoor. So much so, that the phrase “crown jewels” is trending online. According to Time Magazine, this is a recent attempt to…
During my recent solo travel in Kashmir, I went treasure hunting. I looked for places and people with whom I could find vintage jewellery. I did find a source in one of the most unassuming areas of Srinagar and it turned out to be one of the best days of my trip. Since then, I…
One of my favourite styles of bracelets (and necklaces) is a tennis bracelet. I remember buying a Tennis bracelet with rhinestones during my first visit to a mall as a teen which I wore well into my 20s. At the present, I have a couple of rhinestone chokers in a similar style. However, a tennis…
In December of 2000, the Indian Government released six postage stamps on gems and jewellery as a part of Indepex-Asiana 2000. The XIV Asian international exhibition was a tribute to 50 years of India being a republic at the turn of the new millennium. As India celebrates 75 years of Independence from the British rule…
After a long hiatus from Styling shoots, I got back into it recently. I created some looks for a classroom demo for my Fashion styling class and have been shooting by collaborating with photographers and make-up artists in the classroom setup. While many of the looks were staged and conceptual, a few were impromptu, keeping…