Why malas, crystals and gemstones are everywhere right now

Wondering why everyone seems to be styling crystal bracelets and sacred stones all of a sudden? Well, that's the trend now.

In Short

• Sacred stones and crystals are becoming a part of everyday fashion jewellery
• People are embracing their spiritual side and turning it into style
• The growing interest in spirituality-inspired jewellery is largely driven by aesthetics

Do you remember how your father or an older relative would quickly tuck their rudraksha mala out of sight the moment someone noticed it? Or how your mother or aunts would keep their gemstones and crystals carefully hidden, worn quietly and never really talked about?

That's changing fast. Millennials and Gen Z are rewriting the rules around how spiritual malas, gemstones and crystals are worn, and yes, styled.

What was once deeply personal and discreet is now out in the open, layered, stacked and proudly visible. Crystal bracelets with rose quartz, cat's eye and pyrite are being worn like everyday accessories, and outfits are being planned around tulsi and rudraksha malas rather than the other way around.

Not just this, but finding your birthstone and getting customised jewellery made around it has become part belief, part fashion statement.

Celebrities have helped push this shift into the mainstream. Kriti Sanon has often been spotted stacking crystal bracelets effortlessly, while Anushka Sharma is seen wearing a tulsi mala styled like a choker on various occasions, proof that spiritual jewellery can be both meaningful and fashionable. And how can we not mention singer Lara Raj, who turned heads by flaunting her Om pendant on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards earlier this year?

At the heart of this trend is a generational mindset change. People no longer feel the need to hide their spiritual side. Instead, they want to own it, express it and blend it seamlessly with their personal style.

For them, faith, wellness and fashion don't exist in separate boxes. Wearing a mala, crystal or gemstone isn't just about luck or belief anymore; it's also about identity, self-expression and making spirituality feel modern, visible and unapologetically cool.

Ashwanth Ramesh, co-founder, Reia Diamonds, feels that it is a trend that makes complete sense when you look at where we are culturally.

"India has always had a deep, inherited relationship with gemstones and sacred jewellery, rudraksha beads, healing crystals, symbolic pendants, these were never purely ornamental to begin with. What's changed is the context in which they're being worn," he tells India Today.

Ramesh adds that Millennials and Gen Z are bringing these elements into their everyday lives, not just during rituals or religious occasions, but as a genuine part of how they present themselves.

There's a growing appetite for pieces that carry meaning beyond aesthetics, and coloured gemstones in particular have seen a significant rise in interest among their clients.

"The trend is positive because it makes these traditions accessible and desirable to a generation that might otherwise have felt disconnected from them," says Ramesh.

Further, Jignesh Mehta, MD and founder of Divine Solitaires, adds that he sees this trend as a very natural evolution.

"People today want what they wear to mean something, not just look good. Malas and gemstones carry personal belief, intention, and energy, and when they’re worn daily, they become extensions of identity."

Driven by aesthetics

The growing interest in spirituality-inspired jewellery is also rooted in its visual appeal, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Striking gemstones, natural beads, and pared-back chakra pendants often catch the eye first, drawing people in through design before any deeper meaning comes into play.

What's compelling, however, is that beauty and belief don't compete here. As per experts, a well-crafted piece featuring stones like rose quartz or amethyst can feel visually refined while also carrying personal or emotional value.

With its quiet elegance, seen in the balance of a mala or the organic charm of a gemstone, spiritual jewellery offers an aesthetic that goes beyond surface-level beauty, layered with symbolism and intention.

The timeless appeal

Unlike many jewellery trends, pieces made with crystals and sacred stones feel timeless, which makes them easy to style. And, that's one of the most compelling aspects of this category.

"While trend-driven jewellery shifts constantly, chunky one season, minimalist the next, spiritual and gemstone pieces are rooted in materials and symbolism that have lasted for centuries. A simple gold setting with a natural stone, or a rudraksha mala worn as a necklace, doesn't go out of style with the season. Instead, it grows and evolves with the person wearing it," the expert tells us.

Blurring line between belief and style

This shift has been gradual but unmistakable, notes Ramesh. Sacred pieces like rudraksha beads or Om pendants, once limited to devotional spaces, are now seamlessly styled into everyday and street-style looks, as easily as they are seen in temples.

Mehta adds that belief today is no longer confined to private or ceremonial moments but is expressed through what people wear. Many are embracing subtle, stylish ways to reflect their spirituality, with jewellery acting as a quiet expression rather than a bold proclamation.

At the heart of this change is a growing emphasis on conscious consumerism and personal meaning. Jewellery is no longer chosen purely for ornamentation; it is valued for the intention it carries, showing how tradition adapts as culture evolves.

Give credit to wellness culture

Another reason behind this shift is how wellness culture has gone mainstream, especially after the pandemic. When people were forced to slow down and turn inward, there was a clear rise in interest around mindfulness, Ayurveda, chakra balance and holistic living.

Jewellery naturally became part of that journey, pieces linked to certain energies, metals believed to have healing properties, and crystals that felt more intentional than decorative.

What's also changed is how mindful buyers have become. The expert mentions that people are now asking where their stones come from, how they're sourced and what they stand for.

- Ends