Lac
A natural resin used as a lightweight core inside hollow jewellery, and as the body of Rajasthani lac bangles.
Lac is secreted by an insect and harvested from tree branches, then heated and worked while soft.
As a core it fills hollow gold and pachi work, keeping large pieces light and giving stones something to be pressed into.
As a material in its own right it forms the brightly coloured bangles of Rajasthan and Gujarat, set with mirrors and stones.
When you are buying
Lac softens with heat. Keep lac-cored and lac-bodied pieces out of direct sun and never leave them in a parked car, or the setting loosens.
Pachi and bangle pieces
A few from the collection, from ₹1,200.
Broad designer pearl bangles
Pretty pearl bangle set with gold colour american diamond spacers
Beautiful, elegant seed pearl bangles in red and green stones
Cute pearl bangles strung with golden beads
Elegant String Of Cream Pearls With CZ Kundan Pendant
Dainty String Of Cream Pearls With Elegant Kundan Pendant
Classic Black Pearl Bangles
Cute String Of Cream Pearls With Elegant Kundan Pendant
Pachi
A kundan variant where stones are set into a lac-filled frame, giving a slightly raised, textured surface.
Kundan
A setting technique where highly refined gold foil is pressed around stones to hold them, with no prongs or claws.
Chooda
The set of red and white bangles a Punjabi bride wears, given at the wedding and worn for a set period afterwards.
Bangle
A rigid closed circle worn on the wrist, sized by internal diameter rather than length.