Kundan Jewellery: Most Royal Craft and How to Style It in 2026

If your Pinterest board is anything but messy at the moment, it’s a long scroll of chunky gold-plated sets, pastel stone chokers and jhumkas that look like they’ve walked straight out of a Sanjay Leela Bhansali frame. And somewhere in that mix, there is always a word that keeps coming up under half the pins you have saved. Kundan.

It’s having a proper moment once more. Not the 'only for weddings' moment it once was, but a real, everyday, Instagram-carousel sort of moment. Yes, brides are wearing it but girls are also pairing a single Kundan choker with a plain black slip dress for a friend’s sangeet. So is a woman wearing a delicate kundan pendant under a linen shirt for a Diwali work event. The craft has slipped quietly out of the vault into our day-to-day wardrobes.

So let’s get down to what kundan jewellery is, where it originated from, why it still feels this luxurious centuries later and how you can wear it in 2026 without needing a locker to store it in. 

Table of Contents

1. What Is Kundan Jewellery

2. The Royal Origin Story

3. How Kundan Is Traditionally Made

4. Kundan vs Polki vs Meenakari

5. Why GIVA Set Kundan in 925 Silver

6. Types of Kundan Jewellery You Can Actually Wear

7. Kundan Jewellery Designs 2026

8. How to Style Kundan with Modern Outfits

9. Kundan for Weddings 2026

10. Caring for Your Kundan Silver Jewellery

11. FAQs

12. Shop the GIVA Kundan Edit

What Is Kundan Jewellery 

Kundan jewellery is a traditional Indian art form where uncut, polished gems or coloured glass are set into a metal base with the help of refined gold foil and not prongs or claws as Western jewellery does. This technique, called Kundankari, is what gives kundan pieces that flat, glowing, almost stained-glass look, rather than the sharp sparkle you get from a cut diamond.

That one line is sort of the textbook answer. But here is what the textbooks neglect. Kundan was never supposed to be loud, like the loudness of modern statement jewellery. This was supposed to glow, softly, under candlelight and diyas, which is why it captures so beautifully even today under warm Instagram lighting. 

The Royal Origin Story 

Every jewellery blog will say that kundan originated in the courts of Rajasthan and Gujarat of the Mughal era. True, but a bit incomplete. What really happened is more interesting.

The Mughal aristocracy wanted jewellery that looked heavy, rich and unmistakably royal. But travel and battle life meant that gemstones often arrived uncut or irregularly shaped. The artisans of Jaipur solved this problem by setting the stones in pure gold foil instead of cutting them to fit a mould. The foil had a secondary use. It held the stone tight and it threw light back through the stone, making even a modest stone seem much more luminous than it really was. Honestly, clever.

It is less widely known that the same artisan families who worked in those courts are still setting kundan by hand in Jaipur today, generation after generation. There is no manual with the techniques passed down. They live in the hands of the working people. That continuity is the real royal part of this story, not the palaces, but the fact that a craft this old survived without having had to have a factory to keep it alive. 

How Kundan Is Traditionally Made

You don’t need a jewellery-making degree to appreciate this, but knowing the process makes you look at every kundan piece differently. Here's the short version.

-The base is complete. The stones are mounted in a setting of gold or gold-plated metal.

-Add lac. Behind the setting is a resin called lac, which gives it its strength and structure.

-Stamping in gold foil. Each stone is surrounded with fine sheets of pure gold foil called kundan.

-Stones are hand-placed. The foil is pressed with uncut gemstones, glass or crystal, one by one, all by hand.

-The piece is finished. Enamel work or meenakari at the back is often added for that pop of colour when the piece moves.

No two pieces of traditional Kundan jewellery are ever the same. That’s why authentic kundan takes days and sometimes weeks to complete one elaborate set. 

Read more: Evolution of Jewellery - From Traditions to Trends  

Kundan vs Polki vs Meenakari 

This is the one question that comes up in literally every jewellery group chat before a wedding season. So let us settle it properly with a table, because honestly it deserves one. 

Here is the information from the image organized into a clean, markdown table:

Basically, kundan and polki are cousins, they use the same setting technique, just different stones. Meenakari is not a stone technique at all, it is the colourful enamel finishing that often lives on the back of kundan and polki pieces. Because they are so often worn together as one set, most people get the three confused. 

Why GIVA Set Kundan in 925 Silver 

The honest problem with most kundan jewellery you’ve seen so far is this: It is beautiful, but it is heavy, both in weight and in cost. Traditional kundan sets are made of 22K gold, priced for a wedding, weighted for only one kind of occasion, the once-in-a-lifetime kind. You buy it, wear it twice and then it lives in a locker for the next decade.

Most of us don't want to wear jewellery like that in 2026. We want pieces we can grab on any random Friday, not just our wedding day.

GIVA sets Kundan jewellery in 925 sterling silver but not in heavy gold because of this reason. Silver keeps the craft intact, the same uncut stones hand set, the same warm glow but at a fraction of the weight and price of a traditional gold kundan set. You still get the visual richness of the craft without the anxiety of having to insure it before every outing. Kundan is not something you lock up, but something you can live in.

If you were looking at the GIVA kundan collection online and wondering how it manages to look so regal for a price that doesn’t require a loan, here’s your answer. Same centuries-old setting technique, just built for a woman who wants heritage jewellery in her everyday rotation, not just in her bridal trunk. 

Types of Kundan Jewellery You Can Actually Wear 

Golden Rajnigandha Choker Necklace

Kundan is not one silhouette. It is a staple in almost every jewellery category, and knowing your options makes shopping so much easier.

Kundan Necklace & choker

This is the hero category from delicate single-line kundan necklace pieces to full layered sets. In particular, a kundan choker has become the internet’s favourite way to dress up a plain outfit in seconds.

Earrings Kundan

There are three different personalities in this category alone.

-Jhumkas, for all the festive drama

-Chandbalis for that half-moon chic

-Simple designs, everyday wear that still feels special, Kundan studs

Kundan Maang Tikka

The bridal-esque piece that frames the face in a flash. Not just the bride, now guests are secretly starting to love it for sangeet and mehndi looks too.

Kundan Rings 

If you want to test the trend without committing to a full set, a single statement kundan ring is the way to go.

Kundan Bangles

Wear on its own as a statement cuff or layered with simple gold-plated or silver bangles for texture. 

Kundan Jewellery Designs 2026 

Here's what's real right now if you've been watching what's really trending this year and not what jewellery brands are saying is trending.

Pastel stone kundan is replacing the traditional deep red and green palette, think powder blue, blush pink and mint set alongside the classic gold tone.

You see Kundan-meenakari fusion pieces everywhere. The coloured enamel is no longer hidden at the back but peeking out from the front as a design detail.

Mixed-metal kundan is having its moment too, kundan stones set into silver bases rather than just gold, which is exactly the direction GIVA has leaned into.

Quietly displacing full elaborate sets are minimal single-stone kundan studs for women who want the look without the weight.

You can layer your kundan necklaces; imagine layering simple gold-plated chains but with varying lengths instead of wearing one heavy piece.

This shift speaks volumes about the future of kundan jewellery. It’s moving from being a purchase for a specific occasion to becoming something more like a wardrobe staple, the way a good pair of gold hoops became one. 

Read more: Traditional Jewellery Trends & Heritage Guide 2026 with modern touch  

How to Style Kundan with Modern Outfits 

So let’s get into it properly, this is the part everyone actually wants to know. Kundan doesn’t need a saree or a lehenga to work. It’s all about the right pairing.”

-Kundan choker with off-shoulder or cowl neck top. This is the kind of styling moment that works well on Instagram right now, the contrast between traditional craft and a modern neckline.

-Linen and denim with Kundan studs. Surprisingly, small kundan earrings are good for daytime, brunch or even office wear if your workplace is not too formal.

-An Indo-Western drape gown with Kundan jhumkas. This is the sangeet-to-cocktail crossover look that continues to reappear in every wedding season lookbook.

-Layer kundan over the chain you already have in gold or silver. You don’t have to buy a whole new set. Upgrade both pieces at once by layering a kundan pendant on top of a plain chain you already own.

-One kundan ring with an otherwise minimal outfit. Sometimes the trick is in restraint. Let the ring speak for itself.

What’s really different about the styling in 2026 is how kundan is being treated as an accent rather than a full costume. You no longer have to match every single piece in a set. A single statement piece styled with a simple outfit often photographs better than a head-to-toe matched look, which is honestly great news for anyone building a jewellery collection piece by piece. 

Kundan for Weddings 2026 

Weddings are still where kundan does its heaviest lifting, but the rules have changed depending on whether you are the bride or the guest. 

Here is the information from the second image organized into a clean markdown table:

If you are attending a wedding this season, a single kundan piece, a pair of chandbalis or statement choker is far better than a whole set. It’s intentional instead of trying too hard and leaves room for you to actually enjoy the function rather than adjusting a heavy necklace all night. 

Caring for Your Kundan Silver Jewellery 

Kundan set in silver requires a bit different care than kundan set in gold. So, here is what actually works.

-Store each piece individually and flat, preferably in a soft pouch to prevent the stones from scratching other jewellery.

-Stay away from perfume, hairspray and moisture, all of which can dull the silver base and the foil work over time.

-After wearing, wipe with a soft dry cloth, not a wet cloth, because the lac base does not tolerate moisture well.

-If you wear a piece often, get the stone settings checked once a year, just to make sure nothing has come loose.

-Avoid storing your silver pieces in direct sunlight for long periods, as this may damage the plating finish. 

FAQs 

What is kundan jewellery made of? 

Kundan jewellery is made using uncut gemstones or glass set into a metal base with pure gold foil, using a technique called Kundankari. The base can be gold, gold-plated silver, or 925 sterling silver depending on the piece.

Is kundan jewellery real gold or can it be silver? 

Kundan can be set in either. Traditional bridal kundan is usually built on 22K gold, while modern everyday pieces, including GIVA's kundan collection, use 925 sterling silver for a lighter, more affordable version of the same craft.

What is the difference between kundan and meenakari jewellery? 

Kundan refers to the technique of setting stones in gold foil, while meenakari is the colourful enamel work often added to the reverse of kundan pieces. They are frequently combined but are technically two separate crafts.

Is kundan jewellery good for everyday wear? 

Lighter kundan pieces like small studs, a single pendant or a slim ring work well for everyday wear, especially when set in silver rather than heavy gold. Full elaborate sets are better saved for festive or wedding occasions.

How do I style kundan jewellery with a Western dress? 

Pair a kundan choker with an off-shoulder or cowl-neck top, or wear simple kundan studs with denim and linen for a relaxed daytime look. The contrast between the traditional craft and a modern silhouette is what makes the styling work.

Is kundan jewellery only for brides, or can guests wear it too? 

Guests can absolutely wear kundan, but the general rule for wedding season 2026 is to stick to one statement piece rather than a full matching set, so as not to compete with the bride's look.

How do I clean and store kundan silver jewellery? 

Store pieces flat and separately, wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing, and keep them away from moisture, perfume and direct sunlight to protect both the silver base and the stone settings.

What is the difference between kundan and polki? 

Kundan uses uncut glass or gemstones set in gold foil, while polki uses uncut natural diamonds set using the exact same technique. Polki is essentially the diamond version of kundan, which is why it is priced significantly higher.

Shop the GIVA Kundan Edit 

If this has you reconsidering what your festive jewellery box is lacking, this is your cue to actually start looking. GIVA's kundan collection brings the same centuries-old Kundankari craft into 925 silver, so you get the glow, the heritage and the detail without the weight of a traditional gold kundan set weighing you down. Be it a choker for your next sangeet or a single pair of studs for absolutely no reason at all, there is a kundan piece in there that will earn its place well beyond one occasion. 

Piyush Gandhi

Spearheads SEO growth with strategic insight, channels his passion into writing SEO-friendly articles. He loves playing with keywords to craft content that both ranks and resonates.