Indian gold necklace consisting of seven pendants strung on a traditional cord, alternated with kundan-set polki units. In the center is a stone inlaid with a flowering tree of life (jeevan vriksh) dressed in polki using the traditional jadai technique and bordered with kundan-set diamonds. On either side are pairs of pendants decorated with birds perched around kundan-set diamonds, followed by identical nephrite pendants ornamented with gem-set birds perched on a flower. The finials, crafted in gold depict two rosettes set with red and green stones.

All the pendants are bordered with fungar—small gold cups to which pearls, with red beads, are wired, and are strung on the cord using patwa work, the same technique using which the cord is also made. Emerald and tourmaline drops ending with seed pearls and red and green enameled beads are suspended from the pendants. The overall pirai employed in this gold and polki necklace takes about 10 man hours.

The Tree of Life is an ancient motif, which has different significances in different cultures. In some texts, it's the cosmic tree that supports the Universe, and thus, life. And in some, it represents the tree that grew in the middle of the Garden of Eden and bore 12 fruits that, when eaten, gave their consumers eternal life.

Gulzar Necklace