Top Gemstone Jewellery Trends from India Couture Week 2026

The Hyundai India Couture Week just celebrated its 19th edition, held from July 23 to 29, 2026, across Hyderabad's Taj Falaknuma Palace and New Delhi's Taj Palace. This year's Couture Week proved that jewellery is no longer “just an accessory” to the outfit. This year, the country's leading couturiers: Anamika Khanna, JJ Valaya, Tarun Tahiliani, Rahul Mishra, Falguni Shane Peacock, Masaba Gupta, Rimzim Dadu, Arpita Mehta, were the flavor of the month.

Chokers dripping in colour, headpieces reimagined as sculptural gemstone art, brooches worn far beyond the lapel, and centuries-old setting techniques reinterpreted through unexpected materials all made their way down the runway. Beyond the runway, Indian couture's jewellery moment also went global with Rahul Mishra, fresh off his ICW showcase, unveiling a landmark jewellery collaboration on the world stage.

From heritage revivals to genre-defying material experiments, here are the gemstone jewellery trends that defined India Couture Week 2026, and where they're headed next.

Best Gemstone Jewellery trends from India Couture Week 2026: Top Headlines

Tarun Tahiliani: Navaratna Jewellery Gets a Contemporary Couture Makeover

• Tarun Tahiliani brought one of the most direct gemstone stories to ICW 2026 with “Navaratna”; an immersive presentation built around the traditional nine-gem concept.
• The collection is particularly noteworthy for gemstone enthusiasts because Navaratna represents nine traditionally significant gems — ruby, pearl, red coral, emerald, yellow sapphire, diamond, blue sapphire, hessonite and cat's eye.
• Tahiliani's interpretation demonstrated how an age-old Indian gemstone tradition can still find relevance within modern luxury fashion.

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Masaba × Indriya: Coloured Gemstones Redefine Modern Bridal Jewellery

• Masaba's first bridal couture collection, Chardi Kala, brought a vibrant take on Indian bridal fashion, complemented by jewellery from Indriya.
• The jewellery direction included colourful gemstones, kundan-inspired pieces, traditional beads, filigree work and sculptural designs.

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JJ Valaya × RK Jewellers: Rare Gemstones Meet Regal Couture

• The collaboration between JJ Valaya and RK Jewellers brought high jewellery featuring natural diamonds and rare gemstones to the couture stage.
• Valaya's collection, Siddi, drew from the cultural history and heritage of India's Siddi community.
• The pairing demonstrated how rare gemstones can become part of a larger luxury narrative.

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The Bottom Line

There’s an underlying shift happening in the fashion industry; gemstones are being treated as the design itself, not an afterthought. Tarun Tahiliani built an entire showcase around the Navaratna, Anamika Khanna leaned into layered polki, Masaba went all-in on colour for her bridal debut, and Rahul Mishra closed the week with sculptural high jewellery designed alongside Tanishq. Nothing about this year's gemstone jewellery trends felt like a rehash of old bridal catalogues.

If you're trying to make sense of where Indian gemstone jewellery is headed in 2026, ICW gave a pretty clear answer: fewer matching sets, more pieces that actually say something.