On February 14, 1556, the great emperor Akbar succeeded his father Humayun and took control of the Mughal Empire. He was not yet 14 years old.

During Akbar’s reign, Mughal India developed a strong and stable economy and as such was able to put great emphasis on culture and the arts. Akbar was fond of literature and even established one of the first libraries in history exclusively for women: Fatehpur Sikri.

Akbar had a particular fascination with the art of jewelry and began acquiring gems and gold. At his death, he left a collection of jewels renowned as one of the best in history. The emperor had the first pick of all the gems and gold that passed through Mughal India. As such Akbar, his son Jahangir, and Jahangir’s son Shah Jahan became experts on gems and gold. And when Shah Jahan’s son Aurangzeb captured Golconda, the Mughals controlled the only known diamond mine in the world at the time.

For the Mughals, however, more important than diamonds, was gold. Not just any gold, but pure gold. Gold often represents the power, religion, and economy of an empire or dynasty. In Mughal India, it also represented culture. The great emperor Akbar used intricate new designs and patterns in his gold coinage – the first of its kind in the history of India. The legacy of Akbar is left behind in the intricate patterns, designs, and the artistic elements in the gold jewelry of India.

There is a reason that the most intricate jewelry in the world uses the highest karat gold. And it’s not the reason you think. Of course, there is innate value in higher karat gold. However, the more pure the gold, the softer it is, and the easier it is to design with.

Roy Jewels uses only 22 karat gold for our most intricate and challenging designs. Our 22 karat collection is not only an homage to our heritage, but it’s the only type of gold a true artist shall work with. It allows for precision, cuts, and angles that dance in the air, refract the moonlight, and last forever.