The pair that means you don't need a necklace.
Most function jewellery is bought as a set, and most of it ends up competing with itself — a heavy necklace and heavy earrings, both asking for the same attention, neither winning. A single statement jhumka solves that. One piece does the work, the neckline stays clean, and the whole look reads as considered rather than crowded.
This is that piece. Seventy-six millimetres of handcrafted kundan work in a warm gold tone, with pearl fringing along the rim and a domed jhumka bell that catches light every time you turn your head.
Big enough to be the only jewellery you're wearing. Light enough that you'll still have them on at the end of the night.
What kundan actually is
Kundan is one of the oldest jewellery techniques in India, developed in the Mughal courts and still made the same way — stones set into a base using thin layers of refined metal worked by hand, rather than claws or glue. It's what gives kundan pieces their particular look: stones that sit flush in a gold surround, with no visible setting.
It's slow work, and it's why handcrafted kundan looks different from stamped imitation at any distance under a metre.
About the metal — the honest version
These are gold-plated alloy with kundan and pearl work, not stainless steel. That's a requirement rather than a shortcut: kundan setting and this level of hand detailing cannot be produced on steel, which is too hard to work at this scale.
The trade is care. Alloy needs to stay dry and be stored properly, and it isn't built for daily wear the way our anti-tarnish range is. Treated as occasion jewellery — worn to functions, wiped down, put away in a pouch — these hold their finish for years. Worn every day in sweat and humidity, they won't.
If you want earrings for everyday wear, the anti-tarnish stainless steel range is built for exactly that. This pair is for the occasions.
Key details
- Handcrafted kundan work with pearl fringe detailing
- Warm gold tone — suits both silk and cotton, daytime and evening
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76 mm long × 35 mm wide — full statement scale
- Gold-plated alloy, handcrafted by Indian artisans
- Built light for the size — comfortable through a long function
- Occasion wear: keep dry, store in a pouch
- ₹249 · Ships in 1–2 days across India
How to style them
Leave the neck bare, or wear one thin chain at most. A 76mm jhumka is already the focal point — adding a necklace splits attention and the look gets busy rather than rich.
Wear your hair up, or at least tucked behind the ears. A jhumka's whole appeal is movement, and it's completely lost under loose hair.
Gold is the most forgiving colour in ethnic jewellery — it works against every saree colour, both silk and cotton, and in daylight or artificial light. If you own one pair of statement earrings, gold is the pair to own, because it never needs to match anything.
Best against: deep jewel tones, black, white, cream, and any printed or embroidered fabric where a coloured stone would get lost.
Perfect for gifting
Jhumkas are among the easier ethnic gifts — no sizing to guess, worn across every age group, and handcrafted kundan looks considerably more expensive than it costs. Gold is the safest colour if you don't know her wardrobe, because it doesn't need to coordinate with anything she owns.
Two things worth checking: that she has pierced ears, and that she wears larger earrings at all. Some people find anything past a stud uncomfortable, and 76mm is a commitment.
Care — please read
- Keep away from water, perfume, lotion and sweat entirely
- Put jewellery on last, after makeup and perfume have dried
- Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth after each wear
- Store in a dry airtight pouch, not loose in a box
Frequently asked questions
How big are these jhumkas?
76 mm long and 35 mm wide — roughly the length of an adult thumb. That's full statement scale: they sit well below the earlobe and are clearly visible from across a room. For reference, an everyday jhumka is usually 30–45 mm, and bridal pieces run past 100 mm. These are firmly in the festive and wedding-guest range.
Are these heavy to wear for a whole function?
Weight in jhumkas comes from solid metal rather than size — a large hollow jhumka is often lighter than a small solid one. These are built hollow-domed and light for their 76 mm scale, which is what makes them wearable through a long event. If you have sensitive earlobes, a small clear plastic disc behind the earring back spreads the load and makes a noticeable difference over several hours.
What is kundan work?
Kundan is a traditional Indian setting technique developed in the Mughal courts, in which stones are held in place by thin layers of refined metal worked by hand rather than by claws or adhesive. The result is stones sitting flush within a gold surround with no visible setting. It's labour-intensive, which is why handcrafted kundan looks distinctly different from stamped imitation even at a glance.
Are these anti-tarnish like your other jewellery?
No. Aferando's anti-tarnish range is 18K gold plated over 304 stainless steel and is built for daily wear. This pair is handcrafted gold-plated alloy, which is what makes the kundan setting and hand detailing possible — that craft cannot be produced on steel. These need to stay dry and be stored properly, and they're best treated as occasion jewellery rather than everyday earrings.
What colour saree do gold jhumkas go with?
All of them, which is why gold is the pair to own if you only own one. Unlike coloured meenakari, gold doesn't need to coordinate or contrast with anything — it works against deep jewel tones, black, white, cream, and printed or embroidered fabrics where a coloured stone would disappear. It also holds up in both daylight and artificial light, which matters for functions that run from afternoon into evening.
What necklace should I wear with statement jhumkas?
Ideally none, or a single thin chain. A 76 mm jhumka and a heavy necklace compete for the same attention and the look ends up cluttered rather than rich. Leaving the neckline bare is the standard styling choice with large earrings, and it's the reason a single statement pair often looks more expensive than a full set.
What's the difference between a jhumka and a chandbali?
A jhumka is the bell or dome-shaped earring, usually finished with a fringe of pearls or beads around the rim — as this pair is. A chandbali is crescent-shaped, from chand meaning moon, and is typically flatter and wider, often built in tiers. Jhumkas read slightly more everyday; chandbalis more formal. Both suit sarees, lehengas and kurta sets.
How much should handcrafted kundan jhumkas cost in India?
Machine-stamped imitation jhumkas start near ₹150, but the stones on those are usually glued rather than set. Genuinely handcrafted kundan and meenakari jhumkas typically run ₹250 to ₹1,500 from Indian sellers, rising considerably higher on silver bases. This pair is ₹249 in gold-plated alloy with hand-set kundan and pearl detailing.
Are big jhumkas a good gift?
They're a strong choice for anyone who wears ethnic clothing to functions — there's no sizing to guess, jhumkas suit every age, and handcrafted kundan looks far more expensive than it costs. Gold is the safest colour because it doesn't need to match anything she already owns. Check two things first: that she has pierced ears, and that she wears larger earrings at all, since 76 mm is a definite statement.
