Collection: Ethnic Earrings for Women

The styles in this collection

Jhumkas are the oldest continuously worn earring form in the subcontinent — a bell-shaped dome that catches light as you move. Odara's jhumkas run from small everyday pairs to broad, layered bridal versions with pearl or ghunghru hangings.

Chandbalis take their name from chand, the moon: a crescent face, usually Kundan-set, with a lineage running back through Hyderabadi and Mughal workshops. They read formal even in a small size.

Studs are the quiet end of the collection: polki, single-stone and small floral tops for daily wear.

Earring and maangtika sets pair a statement earring with a matching forehead piece, sold together so the metal tone and stone colour actually match. These sit mostly in the Wedding Collection.

Silver earrings cover oxidised and sterling styles for anyone who wears cool tones rather than gold.

How to choose a pair

Start with weight, not looks. A broad bridal jhumka worn for eight hours is a different proposition from the same design worn for a photograph, and the honest answer is that heavier earrings need either a supporting saahara chain hooked into the hair, or a shorter wearing window. Odara lists dimensions on each product page for exactly this reason.

Then match the earring to the neckline rather than the outfit. A high-necked kurta or a closed blouse leaves the ear as the only place for detail, so a long jhumka or chandbali carries the look on its own. An open neckline already competing with a neckpiece asks for a stud or a compact top instead.

For sarees, longer drops sit well because the pallu frames the face. For everyday Western and Indo-Western wear, the modern and contemporary edits are lighter and less literal in their motifs.

What these are made of

Most pieces are brass-based with a gold plating, which is what keeps a hand-set Kundan design at ₹1,600 rather than ₹16,000. Kundan itself refers to the setting technique — stones held in place with refined gold foil, stone by stone, by hand — not to the metal underneath. Polki uses uncut natural stones set the same way. Meenakari is the enamel work you'll often find on the reverse of a Jaipur piece, and kemp stones are the deep red and green stones characteristic of South Indian temple jewellery.

Caring for gold-plated earrings

Plating wears through contact and chemistry, not age. Put earrings on last, after perfume and hairspray have dried. Wipe them with a dry soft cloth after wearing — skin oils are the main culprit. Store each pair in its own pouch so stones don't scratch neighbouring pieces, and keep them out of the bathroom, where humidity does slow damage.

Common questions

Are these earrings suitable for daily wear? The studs and lighter ethnic pairs are. Broad bridal jhumkas and heavy chandbalis are designed for occasions and will wear their plating faster with daily use.

Will gold-plated earrings turn my ears green? Rarely, but it can happen with prolonged sweat contact on brass-based jewellery. If you have a known nickel or brass sensitivity, choose from the silver earrings instead.

Do earrings come with a matching neckpiece? Many do — full sets are listed in Neck Pieces and the Wedding Collection, where the earring is included with the set rather than sold separately.