While necklaces and earrings and their endless iterations are likely to fight for all your attention, your collection of jewels is going to remain incomplete without the right kind of bangles. If you’re curating the jewellery for your big day, we suggest you move away from the regular edit of dainty diamond options and turn your favour to the more elaborate gajra bangles this season.
As the name suggests, the gajra bangle is a bejewelled rendition of the traditional Indian hair accessory that is usually crafted with jasmine buds. “Gajra bangles are essentially kadas or bangles crafted with pearls or pearl beads,” explains Tanya M Sood of House of Aynat. These bangles assume special significance in Rajasthani culture, with its roots lying with the royal families, and are often heirloom pieces that are passed down through the generations.
“In its modern iteration, gajra bangles are created with a scalloped design and further enhanced with a variety of different stones,” Sood elaborates. Think pieces encrusted with polkis, diamonds, meenakari, and even rubies or emeralds. Pair a conventional piece studded with pearls or uncut diamonds with a timeless weave like a Kanjeevaram sari, or even your new-age floral bridal lehenga. An all-gold bangle is apt if you’re trying to achieve is an Indian royal look for your wedding day. If you’re after something more contemporary, a set peppered with diamonds and interspersed with other gemstones will add a contemporary edge to your look. The key lies in picking an iteration that balances your entire bridal jewellery suite and helps you get the vibe you’re aiming for. Design-wise, you can pick between an array of options, spanning across lightweight to super-sized, architectural references to floral motifs. Scroll ahead for our edit of the gajra bangles you need in your bridal jewellery box.
