DIAMOND ITEM

In the world of fashion and design, old trends
 tend to come over again and again, though with
 slight changes. Pachchikam jewelry making craft
is one of the examples of jewelry that has come
back once again. Originated in Gujarat and Kutch,
centuries ago, Pachchikam jewelry has again become
popular and now, is very much in fashion. Many
contemporary designers are today inspired by
the art of Pachchikam jewelry and they are
leading the way for further development in the art.

In comparison with Kundan work, Pachchikam has
crude look and is pretty fragile. Major USP of
 Pachchikam is that instead of using gold for
jewelry making, it makes use of silver and is
thus, quite affordable. One of the reason for
opting for silver as the base metal is that it
is highly malleable and it closely resembles
platinum, a precious metal. Pachchikam jewelry
is quite flashy and can be worn on formal occasions.
 The process of making Pachchikam jewelry is also
quite complicated

In this case, the stone is inserted
in a silver case, the edge of which is
pressed onto the stone with the finger
and then grooves are filed on it. A closer
look shows a setting, which is crude in its
execution, but it is in this quality that
its aesthetical charm lies, making connoisseurs
of beauty appreciate it. The workmanship
involves a very laborious process, which
is time consuming and tedious. Uncut semi-
precious stones and glasswork are significant
products used in making of Pachchikam jewelry.

The art is still kept in by families in Kutch
and Gujarat, where it has been handed down from
generations. The major hindrance in the growth
of Pachchikam is that it cannot be produced on
 a mass scale. The craftsmen are highly conserv
ative, not willing to change according to the
needs and demands of time. They are not open to
change in technical developments and are not
experimenting with new trends and patterns.
This regressive attitude, despite the fact
that it has huge potential, is harming the
over all growth of Pachchikam jewelry art
and industry.