Traditional Silver Jewellery :
The Art of Buying
Buying traditional silver jewellery is as
much an art as crafting it. India has not had a system of
hall marking the silver jewellery, much so, in the case of
the traditional ornaments even when made today. Basically,
it is judged by the feel and the look of it. The traditional
old jewellery arrives in the market when the user either decides
to sell it directly or through the village shop. Many dealer
of traditional jewellery receive a lot of such items through
the traditional silver jewellery sellers.
The traditional ornaments are, by and large,
of a high quality silver. Knowing the prevailing rate helps
in getting the best bargain. Apart from the quality of silver
and craftsmanship, prices for traditional ornament depend
on the availability of the piece. The rarer the ornament the
higher the per gram price.
Rural ornaments can be categorised into two-
the old and the new. The old jewellery, which has been used
shows a certain amount of petina or crust. But the used jewellery
is not necessarily of great antiquity. Since silver jewellery
is constantly worn, it acquires the appearance of antiquity.
On the other hand, certain old pieces which may have been
stored and not used would appear as new. Basically the buyers
should notice the style and the design to judge the authenticity
of the piece. The old ornaments fetch a higher price and are
in great demand.
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