| Metal | Brass |
| Stone Type | No Stone |
| Weight (g) | 25.00 |
| Colour | Gold |
| Occasion | Daily Wear |
An elephant in profile stands across the top of this earring, and beneath it an openwork crescent is pierced with floral patterns and hung with a fringe of small pearls. There are no stones anywhere — the whole effect comes from the metalwork.
Removing stones from a traditional design is a bigger decision than it sounds. Without colour to carry the piece, everything depends on the quality of the piercing and the modelling, which is why most inexpensive jewellery adds stones rather than going without. Here the openwork is detailed enough to hold up: the crescent is cut through with floral shapes so light passes behind it, and the elephant is modelled with proper relief on the trunk, ear and caparison.
The elephant stands rather than sits, with its trunk curved down and a decorated covering across its back, and it spans the full width of the crescent below so the two read as one composition. The crescent is pierced with a repeating floral motif and bordered with fine beading along both edges. Small round pearls hang from the lower rim on individual links, close-set enough to read as a continuous band. The finish is antique gold, darkened in the recesses so the piercing stays legible.
Nothing is set into this pair, which means nothing can come loose and nothing needs checking. For a fairly elaborate traditional earring, that makes it unusually low-maintenance.
These suit cotton, handloom and silk, and the absence of colour means they go with absolutely any outfit — which is the practical advantage of an all-gold design. Hair up, neck bare or a simple chain. They sit comfortably alongside temple jewellery.
Daily wear with a kurta, festivals, pujas and daytime functions.
Light for the size. The crescent is pierced right through, which removes a great deal of metal, and the pearls are small.
This piece is brass finished with a gold-tone plating rather than solid gold, which is what keeps the price where it is and the weight low enough for comfortable wear. Plating is a surface rather than a bulk property, so how long it lasts depends almost entirely on what it is exposed to. Perfume, hairspray, sweat, soap and chlorinated water all shorten its life; a dry cloth after wearing and a closed pouch between wearings extend it considerably. Treated sensibly, the colour holds for a long time.
Put these on after perfume, hairspray and foundation. Wipe with a dry soft cloth after wearing and use a dry soft brush around the stone settings and through any fringe or chain. Store them in a pouch rather than loose in a box, and never use toothpaste, bleach or an ultrasonic cleaner.
Type: Chandbali drop earrings. Metal: Brass. Finish: Antique gold plating. Work: Modelled elephant motif, pierced openwork crescent with beaded borders, pearl fringe. Stone: None. Closure: Post and butterfly back. Available in a single gold colourway.
| Metal | Brass |
| Stone Type | No Stone |
| Weight (grams) | 25.00 |
| Colour/Finish | Gold |
| Occasion | Daily Wear |
| Gender | women |
| SKU/Product Code | KEYU222P206115 |
