Style Guide · 1 min read
Kundan vs. Temple Jewellery: What's the Difference?
Two of India's most recognisable jewellery styles, explained side by side — their origins, how they're made, and when to wear each.
Kundan: Rajasthani, gemstone-forward
Kundan jewellery originated in the royal courts of Rajasthan, and is defined by its setting technique — uncut, polished gemstones (or glass in imitation versions) pressed into a gold-tone metal frame using a lac (natural resin) backing, rather than being held by prongs. This gives kundan jewellery its characteristic flat, glass-like shine and intricate, dense stone-work.
Kundan tends to favour pastel and jewel-tone stones — pinks, greens, reds — set against gold-tone metal, which is why kundan bridal sets often read as colourful and opulent rather than purely gold.
Temple jewellery: South Indian, motif-forward
Temple jewellery takes its name and visual language from South Indian temple architecture and deities — you'll see motifs like the goddess Lakshmi, peacocks, and lotus flowers cast directly into the metal rather than set with separate stones. Where kundan is about stone-setting, temple jewellery is about relief casting and gold-tone detailing, often finished with small hanging pearls or beads along the edge.
Temple jewellery tends to read as more solidly gold in appearance, with a warmer, more uniform tone compared to kundan's mix of stone colours.
Which to choose
Neither is more 'authentic' or more suited to a particular region than the other today — both are worn pan-India and internationally, and many modern bridal wardrobes mix both, using temple jewellery for daytime ceremonies and kundan for the main wedding event or reception. If you want jewellery that photographs with more colour variation, kundan is the stronger choice. If you want a more uniform, classically 'gold' look, temple jewellery tends to deliver that more consistently.