5 Gilded Folklore Earrings — From the Mountains of Ladakh to the Courts of the Mughals
India's earring traditions are among the richest in the world. A country where the karnphool — the ear flower — has been worn for millennia, where royalty measured status in the weight of gold at their ears, where tribal women of the Himalayas turned turquoise and ghungroos into cascading sculptures, where Mughal artisans painted entire gardens onto surfaces no larger than a thumbnail. The five Gilded Folklore Demi Fine earrings in this edit draw from precisely these traditions — updated, reimagined, and made to be worn now.
From ₹1,950 to ₹4,750, handcrafted in recycled metal with 18K gold plating. All five are marked No Restock. Some are more elaborate than anything you've seen at this price. Some are so understated they'll make people lean in to look closer. All are exclusive editions — crafted once, never recreated.
1. Varnika Karnphool Earring — ₹4,750
Color: Gold | Material: Brass Alloy, 18K Gold Plating | 12.5×4 cm | 63 gm
At 12.5 cm long and 63 grams, the Varnika Karnphool is the most dramatic piece in this edit and the most architecturally ambitious earring in the entire Gilded Folklore Demi Fine collection.
The karnphool — literally "ear flower" — is one of India's oldest earring forms, originating in Rajasthan and worn as a statement of beauty, status, and spiritual protection. The Varnika takes this form and translates it into a modern sculptural earcuff that curves gracefully along the entire ear. Luminous stone settings in kundan-inspired detailing wrap the curve of the piece, offering the drama of a statement earring with the softness of timeless craft.
The description captures it exactly: "Contemporary yet rooted, refined yet expressive — a modern heirloom that celebrates the art of adornment in its most evocative form." This is not an earring for every day. This is the earring for the evening you remember.
Best worn with: A low or open neckline where the earring can travel the full length of the ear without interruption. Plain silk sarees, minimal kurtas, or a contemporary gown. Do not compete — let the Varnika be the only jewellery you need.
👉 Shop Varnika Karnphool Earring
2. Maytheli Kundan Earrings — ₹4,550
Color: Gold | Material: Brass Alloy, 18K Gold Plating | 9.5×2.5 cm
The Maytheli Kundan Earrings are the most layered piece in this edit — culturally and aesthetically.
They begin with Tanjore: the ancient South Indian art form renowned for its gold-leaf work, rich colours, and deeply embossed figures from Hindu mythology. The Maytheli takes the opulence of Tanjore and fuses it with kundan work — the North Indian tradition of setting stones in pure gold foil — to create what the description calls a "bold reimagining of classical artistry." The repoussé base is richly textured, the kundan settings luminous, and the overall silhouette abstract and sculptural at 9.5 cm in length.
This is the earring that honours the full breadth of Indian craft tradition — not one region, not one technique, but a dialogue between South and North, ancient and contemporary, that arrives on your ear as something entirely its own.
Best worn with: Silk or tissue sarees, especially in gold, rust, or jewel tones that echo the Tanjore aesthetic. Also stunning with contemporary fusion outfits where the earring's cultural depth creates an intentional contrast.
👉 Shop Maytheli Kundan Earrings
3. Rasadikha Ladakhi Earrings — ₹2,950
Color: Gold | Material: Brass Alloy, 18K Gold Plating | 13×3 cm | 40 gm
The Rasadikha Ladakhi Earrings are the longest piece in this edit at 13 cm — and the most joyful, with their cascading golden ghungroo chains that move with you as you wear them.
A lyrical tribute to Ladakhi mountain adornments, these earrings pair a luminous kundan-inspired setting with a vivid turquoise stone at the centre. From beneath, delicate golden ghungroo chains cascade in fluid tiers, echoing the rhythmic movement and festive spirit of Himalayan jewellery. The turquoise — sacred across the Himalayan belt for its protective and spiritual properties — anchors the piece with colour and meaning. The ghungroos below it move and catch light with every turn of the head.
Ladakhi jewellery has always been among the most distinctive in India — bold, colourful, layered with turquoise and coral, worn with the confidence of people who live close to the sky. The Rasadikha brings that spirit to a contemporary setting: handcrafted in recycled metal with 18K gold plating, merging "cultural depth with modern sculptural elegance."
Best worn with: Rich, embroidered ethnic wear where the movement of the ghungroos adds to the festive energy. Also beautiful with a simple white or ivory outfit where the turquoise and gold create a striking colour contrast.
👉 Shop Rasadikha Ladakhi Earrings
4. Mughal Pearl Earring — ₹1,950
Color: Gold | Material: Brass Alloy, 18K Gold Plating | 1×0.5 cm | 5 gm
Everything about the Mughal Pearl Earring is deliberate understatement — and that is precisely what makes it extraordinary.
At just 1×0.5 cm and 5 grams, these are the smallest, lightest pieces in this entire edit. Small rectangular pearl tiles, hand-painted with intricate floral motifs inspired by traditional miniature art. Miniature painting — the art form of Mughal and Rajput courts where artists painted entire narrative scenes on surfaces the size of a palm using brushes made from single squirrel hairs — is one of the most exacting artistic traditions in human history. Here, that tradition is condensed onto an earring you can wear every single day.
The description calls them "elegant, understated, and richly nostalgic — a gentle nod to India's painterly traditions." At ₹1,950 for hand-painted miniature art on an 18K gold-plated earring made from recycled metal, this is the most accessible and arguably the most thoughtful piece in the entire Gilded Folklore collection.
Best worn with: Literally everything. These are the earrings you put on and forget about until someone leans in to look at them. They work with office wear, casual kurtas, formal sarees, and contemporary outfits with equal ease.
5. Amber Pine Droplets — ₹1,950
Color: Gold | Material: Brass Alloy, 18K Gold Plating | 5×1.5 cm | 10 gm
The Amber Pine Droplets are the sister earring to the Amber Pine pendant — and they share the same delightful philosophy: that luxury can be warm, playful, and carry a private joy alongside its craft credentials.
Warm amber stones paired with tiny oxidised silver pineapple charms, handcrafted in recycled metal and finished with radiant 18K gold plating. At 5 cm and just 10 grams, they are light enough to forget, characterful enough to notice. The description calls them "playful and sunlit" and "joyfully expressive — a delightful fusion adornment that glows with soft, golden warmth."
The pineapple charm — a symbol of hospitality, warmth, and tropical abundance — gives the Amber Pine Droplets a personality that no amount of formal design language can replicate. These are earrings that make you smile when you put them on. They pair naturally with the Amber Pine Pendant for a complete set, or they stand alone as the single note of warmth in a more considered outfit.
Best worn with: Cream, ivory, terracotta, or warm yellow. Also perfectly placed as a pop of amber warmth against a navy or black outfit. Pair with the Amber Pine Pendant for a coordinated Gilded Folklore look.
The Range in This Edit — Something for Every Ear
What makes this earring edit exceptional is how much ground it covers. The Varnika commands a room at 12.5 cm. The Mughal Pearl whispers at 1 cm. The Rasadikha dances with its ghungroos. The Maytheli carries the weight of two artistic traditions simultaneously. The Amber Pine simply glows.
All five are from the Gilded Folklore Demi Fine collection — jewellery born from renewal, handcrafted in recycled metal by skilled artisans, finished in 18K gold plating, made to order exclusively for you. All five are marked No Restock.
Shop This Edit
All five earrings are available now at puneetgupta.in. Use code FIRST10 for an extra 10% off your first order. Free shipping across India. International shipping calculated at checkout.