At Khajanchi Jewels Palace, blood and loyalty run unabated by the desert harsh. Art is entrusted by fathers to their sons, and passed on through generations of Sonaars, who give their everything to withhold the tradition of fine craftsmanship, laced with fresh perspectives & modern technology.
THE HOME OF POLKI
Polkis are uncut, unpolished diamonds in their original, raw form, with their one side usually flat and the other cut to a slight convex. Dating back to approx. 2500 years, this craft made its way to the courts of the Rajputs, and subsequently, to royal families across the country. The far-west country of Bikaner is globally renowned for perfecting skillfully hand-crafted Polki.
THE HOUSE OF AUTHENTIC JADAU
Jadau is essentially the technique of moulding gold around Polki, glass, and other colourless stones. The hindustani word ‘Jadai’ literally translates to ‘being embedded’. In Jadau Jewelry, stones adhere to this gold without any additional adhesive. Jadau Jewelry is usually born out of a multi-step meticulous process.
Skillfully working with intricate designs and delicate materials, the artisans at several KJP workshops transform precious metals and sparkling gems into wearable works of art. As their nimble fingers dance across the workbench, each piece of jewelry takes on a unique personality, reflecting the rich culture and heritage of this ancient city. Truly, a testament to the power of human creativity and ingenuity.
Moulding the structure or Gadhai : Gadhai is the process of forming the base structure using gold coils, the foundation of any Jadau piece.
Khudai & Meenakari: A ghaat (structure) then undergoes Khudai and Meenakari in the next step. Khudai is etching designs & patterns on the surface of the jewelry. After Khudai, the engraved patterns on the gold surface are then filled with colours. Further in Meenakari, the structure is repeatedly heated to firmly set the colours & detail.
Filling up Soorma: Post Meenakari, Soorma is filled in the structure, and heated. This makes way for attaching Polkis or other gemstones to the structure.
Jadai: The final, the defining moment of every Jadau Jewelry, where precious gemstones are intricately placed upon the structure.
