Whether you are choosing a nath for your own wedding or simply want that curve of silver on an ordinary working day, the choice gets confusing fast: Maharashtrian or Rajasthani, chain or no chain, pierced or clip-on, left side or right. The right nath design depends on three things: the regional tradition you want to honour, the size your face can carry for hours, and whether your nose is pierced and on which side. For daily wear, a small silver nath of 1 to 3 grams gives you the shape without the weight.
I grew up in Delhi and made my home in Jaipur, and one thing I have learnt is how differently "a nath" is understood from one family to the next. This guide goes region by region, then covers bridal versus everyday sizes, chain naths, clip-on options for unpierced noses and the left-or-right question.
In short
- A nath is a nose ring worn through the nostril; bridal versions are large and often held by a chain to the hair or ear.
- The Maharashtrian nath is typically cashew-shaped and traditionally made in yellow gold with pearls.
- Left-nostril piercing is more common in northern India, but the side varies by region and family.
- Our everyday naths weigh about 1 to 3 g, and several come with a clip-on option that needs no piercing.
- 925 sterling silver is 92.5% silver. If a listing does not say 925, ask before you buy.
What is a nath?
A nath is a nose ring, usually a hoop or curved ring worn through a pierced nostril, that in its bridal form is often large, set with pearls or stones and held up by a fine chain hooked to the hair or the ear. Everyday naths are smaller hoops that sit close to the nostril without a chain.
Nose rings are younger in India than most people assume. Historians cited in the Wikipedia article on nose piercing note that they are not mentioned in Indian literature before about the 8th century, and that nose piercing was common across South Asia by the 15th century. Today the nose ring is one of the ornaments most associated with married women in South Asia.
Nath design by region
Every region has its own shape, and within each region every family has its own rules. Treat what follows as a map, not a law, and ask the women in your family what they wore.
Maharashtrian nath
This is the nath most people picture. The Gemological Institute of America, examining two traditional pieces, describes the Maharashtrian nath as typically cashew-shaped and usually crafted in yellow gold, with a chain to connect it to a hairpiece or earring, and notes that it was made famous during Peshwa rule. The two pieces they tested were each set with 17 pearls. Families and jewellers still talk about named styles such as the Brahmani and Peshwai nath, and today the full piece is worn mainly at weddings and on special occasions.
Garhwali or Tehri nath (Uttarakhand)
The bridal nath of Uttarakhand, widely known as the Tehri nath or nathuli, is a large circular or semicircular ring worn on the left nostril, connected by a gold chain or a string that hooks onto the ear or hair. It is traditionally presented from the maternal uncle's side and is considered an essential part of a bride's trousseau.
Rajasthani nath
Here in Rajasthan, the bridal nath is usually a large hoop worked with beads or pearls and often finished with a chain to the hair. You will also hear of the phool nath, a flower-shaped style associated with weddings in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Day to day, many women wear a much smaller hoop, which is where silver comes in.
Bengali nathori and nolok
In Bengali, nolok simply means nose ring. Bengali women traditionally wore the nathori, a gold ring with a teardrop that moves along it, together with a nostril nath as a sign of being married. The custom is still kept by many women in rural Bengal, though many now prefer small nose studs.
South India
Nose jewellery in the south follows its own traditions, and Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers wear a septum ring called the bullakku. If you are from a South Indian family, the side and style will usually come from your own mother or grandmother rather than from any of the naths above.
| Region | Names you will hear | Traditional form | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | Nath; Brahmani and Peshwai styles | Cashew-shaped, yellow gold, pearls | Chain to a hairpiece or earring; worn mainly at weddings now |
| Uttarakhand (Garhwal) | Tehri nath, nathuli | Large circular or semicircular ring | Left nostril; chain or string to the ear or hair; from the maternal uncle's side |
| Rajasthan and Gujarat | Nath, phool nath | Large hoop with beads or pearls; flower-shaped styles | Bridal versions often chained to the hair |
| Bengal | Nolok, nathori | Gold ring with a moving teardrop, worn with a nostril nath | A sign of marriage; many women now choose small studs |
| South India | Bullakku (septum) | Septum ring | Worn by Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers |
Bridal nath vs everyday nath
A bridal nath is built to be seen across a mandap and photographed from every angle, which is why it is large and why it usually has a chain: the chain takes much of the weight off the nostril. It is worn for a few hours and then put away. If you are planning the rest of your wedding silver too, our guide for Indian brides covers it piece by piece.
An everyday nath has a different job. It needs to sit close to the nose, stay comfortable through a commute, a phone call and a meal, and not catch on a dupatta. That means a small hoop with no chain. Our Filigree Nath is about 1 g of fine silver wirework, light enough to forget, and our Moon Nath is a moon-shaped design of about 3 g that still reads as a nath across a room. Both come with a wire for a left piercing, a wire for a right piercing, or a clip-on for the left side.
If your piercing is recent, ask your piercer before you change to any new nath, and follow the aftercare they gave you. A heavier bridal piece in particular should wait until they say the piercing is ready.
Chain naths: how to wear one comfortably
The chain should hang with a little slack, never pulled tight, so it does not tug the nostril when you turn your head. Hook it into the hair behind the ear, or onto a hairpin your stylist can hide in the bun. Take the nath off between functions if you can; even a well-balanced bridal nath is tiring over a full day.
If you want the chained look without the weight, a mid-size silver hoop with a fine chain is a sensible compromise for the mehendi or sangeet, keeping the heavy gold piece for the wedding itself.
Clip-on naths for unpierced noses
Not everyone wants a piercing, and plenty of women want to try the look first. A clip-on nath presses gently onto the side of the nostril instead of passing through it. Our Moon Nath and Filigree Nath both come in a clip-on version for the left side, and the Lata Loop Nose Clip is a vine-inspired wirework clip designed to be worn with no piercing at all.
Clip-ons suit a few hours rather than a whole day. Put it on in front of a mirror, press until it holds without pinching, and take it off if you feel it pressing. If you would rather start smaller, the Tota Nose Pin is a little parrot of about 1 g that comes in both wire and clip-on styles. Our guide to silver nose pins covers studs and pins in more detail.
Which side is a nath worn on?
There is no single Indian rule. A caption from Royal Museums Greenwich puts it simply: different areas have different styles and positioning of rings, and piercing the left nostril is more common in northern India. The Uttarakhand bridal nath, for example, is worn on the left. Many South Indian families follow their own side, and some women pierce both.
If your family has a custom, follow it. If not, choose the side that suits your face and your parting. That is why our naths come with a wire for either side.
How we make naths in Jaipur
Our family has worked with silver since 1985, and our karigars in Jaipur shape every nath by hand from 925 sterling silver: 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals, usually copper, for strength. Each piece is stamped 925. The fine wirework on the Filigree Nath belongs to the same family of technique explained in our piece on filigree jewellery.
Here is what I wish more people knew. A lot of "oxidised silver" naths sold online are German silver, which is an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel and contains no silver at all. A nath sits on your face every day; it should be the real metal. And yes, real silver will tarnish a little near the skin. That is chemistry, not a defect, and a soft silver cloth brings it back.
Frequently asked questions
Which nostril is a nath worn on, left or right?
It depends on your region and family. Left-nostril piercing is more common in northern India, and the Uttarakhand bridal nath is traditionally worn on the left, but many South Indian families follow their own custom and some women pierce both sides. If your family has no rule, choose the side that suits your face.
Can I wear a nath without a nose piercing?
Yes. A clip-on nath presses onto the side of the nostril instead of passing through it. It is best worn for a few hours at a time, for a function or a photograph. Several of our naths come in a clip-on version for the left side, and the Lata Loop Nose Clip is made for unpierced noses.
What is the difference between a nath and a nose pin?
A nose pin is a stud that sits flat on the nostril, held by a small post or screw. A nath is a ring or hoop that passes through the piercing and curves around the nostril. Bridal naths are usually large and chained to the hair; everyday naths are small hoops worn without a chain.
Is a silver nath good for daily wear?
A small one is. Choose a light hoop of 1 to 3 grams in 925 sterling silver with no chain, so it stays comfortable through work and meals and does not catch on clothing. Wipe it with a soft cloth if it darkens, and keep it in its pouch when you take it off.
Choosing your nath design, from bridal to every day
The right nath design honours your family's tradition on the wedding day and fits your real life on every other day: a large chained piece for the ceremony if that is your custom, and a light silver hoop, pierced or clip-on, for the years after. Real Silver. Made to be worn every day.
