Know your Chandbalis: up close and personal

After Jhumkas, if Indian women are obsessed about any pair of earrings, it is Chandbalis. From page 3 and glossies to festivals, weddings and kitty parties, this crescent-shaped dangler is a common sight. Thanks to Deepika Padukone’s looks in Ram-Leela, the craze for this exquisite pair fuelled even further. Its potential to merge with traditional Indian wears and so seamlessly, was realised when every time the actress graced the 70 mm in a stunning pair of Chandbalis.

It’s ethnic design, embellished with pearls and gemstones, caught the fancy of women from different walks of life and in no time, there were versions of it, big and small, to go with a variety of ensembles. Whether bridal, Indian traditional, Indo-western or even western, its elementary design is continually tweaked to create pairs for all kinds of looks.

Here are some of the gorgeous designs that you would love to flaunt.

Lavishly designed chandbalis for a bridal ensemble.

A dainty pair of chandbalis for a traditional look.

Matte finish chandbalis to go with your western outfits. But there’s more to this jewel than just a

marvellous design. It has a glorious past to boast about. Originated in the era of Mughals and Nizams,

it is one of the Hyderabad’s crucial contributions to the Indian jewellery heritage. During the Nizam

rule, when pearls were brought to India, Chandbalis came into existence and today, it is available

across India and world over. Yet Hyderabadi Chandbalis stand out for its premium quality pearls. 

Although Chandbalis have stood the test of time as an earring genre, different coloured stones, diamonds and jewellery techniques have revived its look time and again. Kudos to the jewellery designers who never cease to roll out fresh collections of this ancient earring year after year! The marriage of jhumkas with chandbalis, is also a result of such a starling experiment in this category of earrings.  

So, the next wedding you are planning to attend, the office party you wish to outshine in or a festival on which you aim to look your best, make a splash with a pair of Chandbalis.

Author: Deepa Mishra

Disclaimer: All images used in the blog have been sourced from Google purely for the purpose of informative reference. The models, celebrities or products showcased in these pictures are not to promote any brand in any manner.