Authentic vs Replica: Spotting the Difference
Temple jewelry, kundan, and meenakari pieces have specific tells. Here's what every collector should learn to check.
India's jewelry tradition is vast and regional — what looks "Indian" to an outsider is, to an Indian collector, very specifically Rajasthani, Tamil, Bengali, or Maharashtrian. Spotting authentic pieces requires knowing what you're looking at.
Temple jewelry (South Indian)
Real temple jewelry is heavy. The kasu necklaces feature individual stamped coins; replicas use a single stamped sheet pretending to be coins. Run your fingernail across — real pieces click distinctly, replicas slide.
Kundan (Rajasthani)
True kundan uses 24-carat gold foil set with uncut natural gemstones. The back of a genuine kundan piece is just as elaborate as the front — it's set by hand, layer by layer. Replicas have flat, mass-produced backs.
Meenakari (Jaipur)
Authentic meenakari enamel has slight variations in color tone from piece to piece — it's hand-fired. Industrial enamel is flat and identical across pieces.
Hallmarks
For anything sold as silver or gold, the BIS hallmark is non-negotiable. If a seller can't show you the mark, the price should reflect alloy, not precious metal.