A Brief History of Jewelry  

Closely related to the human need for ornamentation was the use of jewelry silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas as amulets endowed with magical powers. For a true understanding of the growth and history of the importance of jewelry and precious stones, one has to be aware of the indelible belief that precious stones could affect the fortunes of the wearer. silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas

silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Jewelry was made with certain convictions in mind, to meld into, conform to and strengthen beliefs. This was particularly true when religions began to form an important sociological bond. silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas

Early in its inception, jewelry silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas   was associated with religious rites. Gold and jewels silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas were used as gifts for the maintenance of worship. In accordance with this began the presumption that benefits could be derived from their wear and soon began the development of a complex network of fictitious powers being attributed to them. silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Curiously, many of these legends surrounding the benefits of certain stones were generally held all over the world. silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas Gold and certain gems common to many parts of the globe were believed to yield similar virtues. silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas

silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas  Jewellers as artists are evident throughout history. silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas The art has been practiced in almost every condition in which civilizations have existed. It is most plausible that the metal worker, with an advance in knowledge, became the jeweller. As the more malleable metals were wrought into rings, bracelets, and armlets, it is conceivable that the need to posses small stones for the charm they retained made the metalworker turn to setting these stones in his or her metal ornaments . Although the methods were primitive, the fastening of stones became an integral part of the craft silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas.

silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas In jewelry circles today and in the recent past, there are considered only four truly precious stones: the diamond, the ruby, the emerald and the blue sapphire. Among the earliest known treasures of the pharaohs, emeralds, rubies and sapphires silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas were seldom used, while turquoise silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas, jasper, lapis lazuli, carnelian and rock crystal played a substantial role silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas. Since color was all important, diamonds were quite unknown. The use of gemstones and precious metals during this time were not limited, but spread lavishly about wherever ornament was desired.

Soon jewelry advanced from a simple ornamental silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas or amulet stance to a more practical one. Jewels became used as a symbol of rank, wealth and social standing. When taking on this role, they became an investment of marketable value silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas . This economic aspect of easily liquidating these possessions became an essential part of the politics of Europe when Francis I instituted the crown jewels as legal entity silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas . For his successors these jewels silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas  were often used during the religious wars to guarantee foreign loans.

silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas The three basic roles that jewelry has played, the ornament, the amulet and the symbol of wealth, have remained constant to the present time. This paper will attempt to trace these developments, particularly in the growth and affect on the western world. Although this is not a definitive work, it will give the reader a broad background on some of the more popular methods of creating, legends and both customs and whims of style that have been combined to give us a history of jewelry silver jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, gift ideas.