This exquisite Nath, or nose-ring from Maharashtra, is of diamonds set in flower-shaped clusters of pearls, the jewel being further embellished by a single ruby bead.

Nose ornaments have been of different types. There are the single stone and the clove-shaped Laung worn on one side of the nose, the jewel worn through the cartilage in the centre of the nose, the Bulak, and Naths of various shapes and designs. One of the most elegant, however, is the Nath of Maharashtra.

Rarely does one see any reference to nose jewellery in the ancient Hindu texts from which it appears that it could have been brought into the country by Muslims in the 9th or 10th century A.D.

In the last few centuries, however, the nose ornament has become part of the bride’s trousseau, and in fact a married woman could not be without it. The blessing for a bride often was, “May your Nath be ever present” (i.e. may you never be a widow).