Affordable ornaments

Usha Corals of Mumbai presents an exhibition of gold plated silver jewellery for Sankranti at 95 Parklane, till January 7.

IN RECENT times when jewellery is dear and unsafe in the house locker, folks are opting for attractive alternatives since ornaments are necessary even for those neighbourhood birthday parties. A popular option is that of gold plated silver jewellery. "The jewellery offers variety. You can buy about ten sets to match the saris, for the price of one in gold. The stones and corals used are real. The cost varies depending on the amount of silver used. Moreover they are handy. You can keep them in the house instead of rushing to the locker before attending any party," says Pragnya Pai of Usha Corals, Mumbai in town for the exhibition cum sale of silver plated jewellery for Sankranti at 95 Parklane (Tel: 27812160, from 10.30 a.m to 8.30 p.m.) till January 7.

Usha Corals was started by the mother daughter duo Usha Prabhu and Pragnya Pai about three years ago and is frequented by Kavita Khanna, Nisha Munim, Ritu Choudhary (KSBKBT), Revathy, Suhasini and Usha Uthup. While mama Usha Prabhu has a penchant for jewellery that she sources from different parts of the country, Pragnya, an artist, designs trendy jewellery.

Thus the collection holds traditional and contemporary designs. In the former, earring and necklace sets in temple jewellery (Rs. 1,200-Rs. 3,000) borrow from motifs seen on the panels of South Indian temple. For those in stones, the Victorian sets featuring an antique finish in two tones hold amethysts and topaz and are priced between Rs. 1,800 and Rs. 2,000. Chokers in paachi (meenakari) work from Rajasthan held in zardosi thread bands (Rs. 650-Rs. 1, 250) and those in Korean silver (Rs. 200-Rs.1, 600) are chic as also pendant and earring combos (Rs.250) for college wear. Sets in corals (also loose corals for Rs. 250-Rs.450 per gram), emeralds, peridots, navratna and other semi precious stones are also available along with sets of bangles to match them with. The kadas with ethnic motifs (Rs. 600-Rs. 800) and lac bangles (Rs. 250-Rs.350) those sported by the bahus in the prime time soaps are among the collection too. Designer bindis and maang tikkas are the other buys to complement your Indo-westerns and ghagras.

About the maintenance part Pragyna recommends, "keep the jewellery in plastic bags. Avoid contact with water and perfumes. The polish lasts for about four years and about nine years for oxidised antique finish sets, depending on how you use them." Bag a few then since they are easy on the purse.