Gold jewellery on display at a shop in Mandalay.

In this ever-changing world the latest trendy jewellery designs will continue to enchant those who adore gold and diamonds.

In the past few years the yellow metal from Thailand was in vogue and much valued. As everyone favoured yellowish gold there arose a saying: “Don’t think all that is yellowish is gold”.

Since Chinese jewellery shops predominate in Mandalay nowadays, the traditional Chinese appreciation of reddish gold has established a popular taste for it. Thus perhaps the saying should be changed to “All that glitters is real gold”.

So those who are not expert goldsmiths are wavering over whether yellowish or reddish gold is better. But of course purity is more important than pigmentation. That gold assessment courses have become so popular in Mandalay testifies to people’s considerable interest in the subject.

Just as the purity of the gold is important trendy designs are also essential. Fashion consciousness is spiralling upwards and new designs are constantly emerging and old ones are refashioned. But nowadays people prefer machine-cut ornaments to handcrafted ones.

People say that now people are yearning for the old. But the old plain chain design can be reinvented with a machine-cut chain lavished with a machine-cut flowery designed pendant, turning it into an exquisite work of craftsmanship. A ceremonially worn machine-cut necklace with a flower design, paired with a bracelet, ring and drop earrings are very much in vogue at the moment among fashionable middle-aged women. To look right for this set two ticals of gold need to be used.

Many people are smitten by 15 carat gold ornaments pigmented with platinum. But as in the saying ‘a girl with her forearm full of gold bracelets’, many people have grown up wearing traditional bracelets. With minimal charges for service and confident of not losing value on resale, many women still prefer solid gold bracelets.

Amongst mature women an outstanding design is the dragon headed bracelet. As each weighs at least two ticals with a value of K one million glamour is combined with a statement of social standing. Circular gold bracelets charm the adults, as do seven sisters’ bracelets and sugarcane model design bangles. The young ones prefer fancy thin hollow bangles and flexible hand chains.

On the long hair flowing down their backs, golden clips are fastened on the back of the head for middle aged women and on the front side for youths, whilst some prefer semi-circular golden combs.

As the price of gold has gone high most prefer ornaments of light weight yet glamorous appearance. “The solid ornaments of olden days have now turned hollow,” Daw San Pwint of Yousin Jewellery pointedly remarked.

With this year’s wedding season now underway, the plain solid smooth glittering wedding rings of bygone days are less popular. Now, imitating Korean movies, brides and grooms cherish single diamond encrusted rings. In diamond ornaments machine cuts are preferred to hand crafted ones.

Hong Kong Jewellery, which operates with machine-aided goldsmiths, says they have created single diamond rings of ‘cutting-edge’ designs this year. Some customers prefer triple clear diamonds or five clear crystals. But this year a trendy type of single diamond backed by small glass rods is catching everyone’s eye.

A set of single diamond drop earrings, a locket and a ring set is an ever lasting fashion. Previously, a diamond crown necklace, a pair of diamond earrings and a Thuzar bracelet were considered classic ceremonial wear. Now, a circular studded fancy diamond necklace and an exclusively designed beautiful hand chain with a few diamonds will steal the show.

Pyu era bead necklaces are now in vogue and a guiding star for modern damsels. Also, long necklaces with diamonds encrusted alternately with other precious stones and pearl necklaces are a renaissance for the ladies of today.

Goldsmiths and silversmiths are ancient trades that have existed since the Pyu and Pagan eras, cherished and promoted by ancient Myanmar Kings. So these craftsmen will always be with us.

But in this century our handcrafted ornaments will increasingly be supplemented with machine cuts that take their place amongst our trendy favourites.