Jhimki
ജിമിക്കി
The bell-shaped earring — the classic Kerala ear, in any decade.
Jhimki, also written Jhumki, is the bell-shaped or dome-shaped earring that has been the default Kerala ear for generations. The dome hangs from a small post or hook and ends in a single small bead or pearl. The form has barely changed in a hundred years.
The Jhimki is not a ceremonial piece — it is the everyday earring of Kerala women, worn from the age of ear-piercing through the rest of life. Many Kerala daughters receive their first Jhimkis at the kathukutham (ear-piercing) ceremony, and a small Jhimki design is among the first orders most jewellery shops in Kerala fulfil.
The bell-shape is hammered from a sheet of gold and finished with fine granulation or chasing on the surface. The post or hook must be sized correctly for comfort — a heavier Jhimki will pull the earlobe, so the weight is balanced through the suspension. A drop pearl or small gold bead is added at the lowest point.
Jhimkis are worn through the day, every day, in nearly every Kerala home. They pair with sarees, salwars, kasavu, and western dress alike. Heavier bridal Jhimkis are worn at muhurtam, often with a chain (mattil) running from the ear to the bun.
The piece itself, at our bench — ജിമിക്കി.
The smallest Jhimki we sell weighs two grams; the largest bridal pair, eighteen. The first Jhimki the shop ever sold, in 1955, was a pair to a teacher from Akathethara for her daughter's wedding. The design is still in production.