JEWELS 2000

The All India Jewellery and Watch exhibition at Kalaignar Arangam in the city featured over 30 jewellers from Chennai, Mumbai, Jaipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad.

Latest designs in gold, embellished with precious stones like ruby, pearls, emeralds and diamonds was the major attraction. 24 carat gold jewellery (gold topped with copper) found many buyers, as it was reasonably priced and offered a variety. Over 300 varieties of diamond rings were on display at one jewellery stall.

The highlight of the show was Thewa glass jewellery - a 400-year-old art, (23 carat gold fused with coloured glass, to produce beautiful ornaments). This art is derived from the Mughal culture and is traditionally practised by a single family in Rajasthan. Photoframes, earrings, pendants and bracelets were some of the items at the exhibition, made in the Thewa tradition.

Another attraction was the Portraits of Gods, etched in 24-carat gold, crafted in Switzerland and framed in different sizes. Some of the portraits on display were those of Lord Hanuman, Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, Buddha and Sai Baba.

THE 'ELLORA' EXHIBITION

This one, the ladies in Chennai would not want to miss out on!

On display at the Vimonisha Art Gallery - Necklaces, Earrings and Jewel sets - in brilliant stones. Arresting your attention as part of the jewellery collection of famous Delhi designer Ashim Sablok.

Inspired by the Ellora caves, the concept of this show is the revival of jewellery styling as was prevalent in 19th century India.

The collection also has silver, with semi precious stones, pearls and coloured crystals. As Ashim remarks, " I wanted to revive the jewellery of that era, combined with the technical brilliance which is available today."

We asked him about the concept of the Ellora caves. "I was bursting with ideas on the Ellora caves", he says, "and was restless to revive those ideas in the form of jewels for the millennium."