A History of Jewelry

Jewelry has been worn by people since ancient times. The earliest people wore necklaces made of bones and animal teeth, while jewelry made of gold and silver is believed to have made its appearance among the ancient Egyptians more than 3,000 years ago.

The ancient Egyptians also were among the first to incorporate precious stones in their jewelry, using such gemstones as amethyst, turquoise, and lapis lazuli, and they also used enameling. Many paintings of Egyptians show them wearing two bracelets on each arm, one on the wrist and another above the elbow.

By the time of the Renaissance, robes worn by both men and women were adorned with pearls and other gems. T he first reference to a crown worn by British royalty dates from the 13th century. That crown was broken up but fragments are believed to have been used in the crown worn by Charles II (reigned 1660-1685), the same crown used today.

The art of jewelry-making was refined during the Georgian and Victorian periods in Europe, and new pieces such as cameos and lockets were introduced. Platinum entered the scene at the turn of the 20th century.

The Roaring Twenties saw a huge demand for jewelry, and a new style debuted at the Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The unusual new mode took its name from that event: Art Deco. It featured abstract geometric forms and shapes, combining modern art with such diverse designs as those created by the Aztecs and Egyptians.

By the 1940s still another design was introduced, called Retro Modern, that featured flamboyant curves and bows in large pieces of jewelry. Yellow, pink, and even green gold was used, along with unusual mixtures of colored gemstones. Today's consumers look upon this style as garish.

World War II created a shortage of platinum, so most jewelry of the period was made of gold and silver. During the latter part of the 20th century such pieces as the tennis bracelet and diamond solitaire pendant appeared, and designer jewelry also became popular. Platinum made a huge comeback in the early 1990s.

Most jewelry industry experts agree that today's consumers have the widest choice ever available among dozens of different colored gemstones in a dazzling array of cuts and shapes. The 2000s promise to be the best era ever for gemstone jewelry-so enjoy!