Kundan is the backbone of North Indian bridal and festive jewellery. In imitation form, it is one of the highest-value categories a wholesaler can stock. But quality varies widely, and a poor Kundan set is easy to spot: dull foil, uneven stones and flaking plating.
What Kundan is, and where it comes from
Kundan is one of India's oldest jewellery-making techniques, associated with the royal courts of Rajasthan and the Mughal era, with Jaipur and Bikaner as historic centres. The word refers to highly refined gold: in the traditional craft, strips of pure gold foil are pressed around each stone to hold it in place, with no prongs or glue. The reverse of the piece is often decorated with meenakari, coloured enamel work also strongly associated with Jaipur.
Polki is related but different: it uses uncut diamonds with their natural faces, set in the Kundan manner.
Imitation Kundan uses glass stones with a foil backing, set into a gold-tone frame on a Mazak or brass base, often with meenakari-look colour on the reverse. Imitation "polki-look" pieces use glass or uncut CZ with a foil backing to reproduce that soft, unfaceted glow.
Styles that sell in wholesale
- Bridal necklace sets with earrings and maang tikka
- Rani haar (long layered necklace)
- Chokers and collar necklaces
- Chandbali and jhumka earrings
- Maang tikka, matha patti, passa
- Kundan bangles and kadas
- Hathphool and bajuband
Quality checks
| Check | Good Kundan | Poor Kundan |
|---|---|---|
| Foil | Bright, even under each stone | Dull or patchy |
| Stones | Flush, uniform shape | Raised, uneven |
| Frame | Clean lines around stones | Glue or gaps visible |
| Meena (if any) | Even colour, no chips | Smudged, chipped |
| Pearls and drops | Firmly strung | Loose |
Questions to ask Kundan suppliers
- Are you the manufacturer or do you source from others?
- What base metal and finish do you use?
- Can you change stone colours to match my market?
- What is the MOQ per design, and can I mix designs?
- Will I approve a sample, and see stock before paying the balance?
- Do you give GST invoices?
Regional preferences
- Punjab and Haryana: heavy, layered bridal Kundan with chooda-matching colours.
- Rajasthan: Kundan-Meena with strong colour on the reverse.
- Delhi NCR and UP: bridal sets and party-wear chokers.
- Gujarat: Kundan with Navratri colours alongside bridal.
- Diaspora: complete sets with matching maang tikka travel best.
Buying from a manufacturer
If you buy 200 or more units per design, buying from a Kundan manufacturer gives better unit price, colour control and repeatable re-orders. We manufacture imitation Kundan and Polki to order in Mumbai. See our Kundan jewellery wholesale range or compare with AD in Kundan vs AD for resellers.
How imitation Kundan is made
- A metal frame is cast in zinc alloy or brass with cups for each stone.
- The frame is plated, usually in a warm gold tone.
- Glass stones with a reflective foil back are set into the cups and fixed.
- Gold-tone edging around each stone recreates the look of pressed foil.
- Pearls, beads and drops are strung and attached.
- Meenakari-look colour may be applied to the reverse.
Kundan colour trends
Bridal Kundan has moved from all-red to a much wider palette: pastel pinks, mint, powder blue, champagne and ivory, matched to modern lehenga colours. Keep the classic red-green in the range, but add pastel versions of your best-selling designs for younger brides.
Seasonality in Kundan
Kundan demand follows the North Indian wedding calendar and festivals such as Karva Chauth, Diwali and Teej. Because Kundan pieces are labour-heavy, factories get busy before each peak. Place bridal Kundan orders early, and keep party-wear chokers and earrings on a shorter cycle so you can react to what sells.
Kundan care and storage
Kundan stones are foil-backed glass, and moisture can dull the foil over time. Store sets flat in their boxes with anti-tarnish paper, keep them away from damp, and avoid spraying perfume on them. Pearls and beads on Kundan sets are threaded, so tell customers not to hang heavy necklaces by the thread for long periods. A care card with every set prevents many returns that are really storage problems.