Jewelry History
During the ancient times, jewelry played an important role in maintaining a status quo. For purposes of personal adornment, people wore ornaments made of precious metals (silver, gold, platinum, titanium) occasionally set with precious and semiprecious gems.
The earliest pieces of jewelry consisted of animal bones made into necklaces and other ornaments, but the ancient Egyptians first began the process of embellishing metals around 1333-1323 B.C. They commonly used gold and silver and inlaid these metals with semiprecious stones.
Upon the beginning of Greece's classic period, rings were extremely popular. At the height of the Roman Empire, they were often worn on all ten fingers. The Byzantine nobility decorated themselves in extravagant fashion, and they were constantly decked out in ornate jewelry. During this age, clothing was modified by adding precious gems such as rubies, emeralds, pearls and gold. This era was defined by elegance and class.
The 15th century to the early 17th century, or the period of the Renaissance, was marked with distinct, fashionable costumes. Silk and rich velvet robes for both men and women were embroidered with pearls and gems. Jewelry during this period was characterized by rich colors and by architectural and sculptural designs. Brooches and pendants containing miniature portraits became exceedingly common at this time.
Jewelry in the 17th and 18th century fell into two categories: jewelry that reflected changing fashions in arts and clothing and diamond jewelry. The desire for increased brilliance led people to opt for diamonds as their preferred gemstone. In the 18th and 19th centuries, industrial development made it possible to produce popular jewelry at lower costs.
In the case of both luxury and popular jewelry, the characteristic arrangement was a parure or matched set. A man's set would consist of buttons, shoe buckles, the insignia of knightly orders and a sword hilt while a woman's set included a tiara or ring in addition to the basic combination of brooch, necklace and earrings.
There was a high demand for jewelry during the 1920's and this spawned a new style called Art Deco. Modern elements were mixed with Egyptian designs and Aztec themes to create this design.
These days, jewelry designs run the gamut from silver to gold to even titanium pieces. With the advent of the Internet, shopping online for jewelry is becoming more popular. Designer jewelry has also become all the rage with many celebrity-turned-designers offering their own fashion lines. A behind-the-scenes look at jewelry manufacturing reveals an intricate process which takes considerable time and effort.