Since the beginning of time, people have desired jewelry. They first adorned themselves with objects made from feathers, shells, or other easy-to-use materials found in nature. It’s believed by some scholars that our earliest ancestors wore decorations before they wore clothes.
Rather than meant as adornment, the first objects were generally worn as amulets or talismans. The intent was to either ward off disease or evil, or to draw in wisdom or luck. Crystals meet the same needs today for some people. Jewelry also functioned as money in early times, until coins were invented. It continues to claim value as wealth in crown jewels in various nations.
Prehistoric peoples likely strung objects on plant fibers to make pendants, which are believed to be the first objects created. As time passed, they learned how to make beads by polishing stones and drilling holes in them. Prometheus, the Roman god of fire, is credited with making the first ring. Romans went on to establish wedding rings as part of their traditions.
Historians believe that Asian men and women were the first to wear earrings, probably around 3000 B. C. E. There’s evidence that Egyptians began wearing earrings about fifteen hundred years later. Everyone who wore them had pierced ears, as screw-backs and clip-ons were not developed until the 20th century. Most of the other kinds of jewelry that we wear today, such as tiaras, bracelets, and brooches, have been worn since early times.
The art of cloisonne’ was first developed in Sumer (Iraq). Craftsmen in Egypt further refined the technique and used it in many of their creations. “Granulation”, the use of exceedingly small gold balls attached to a surface, was an Italian speciality. Diamonds and other hard gems became an earmark of Roman ornamentation.
Christian symbols dominated designs until the Medieval ages, which saw a return to talismans, usually in the form of animals. Then came the Renaissance, bringing a resurgence of opulence in personal adornment. Designs were often abstract. By the 16th century, pattern books were available. Lapidaries (stone cutters) learned faceting, and diamonds became the favored gemstone, a distinction they continue to hold.
Early funerary practices of burying precious objects with people have provided evidence that both sexes wore jewelry. As times changed, a person had to be of noble birth wear gems. Which sex and status was allowed was a function of the various cultures, so that sometimes only men bedecked themselves, while other societies permitted only female adornment. Designs and techniques varied also from area to area. India and surrounding countries had rich deposits of gemstones, so their objects featured color. Gold distinguished Grecian efforts, and silver was a hallmark of Chinese designs.
Plastic is widely used today, either as imitation gems, or on its own versatile attributes in playful pieces. Adornments nowadays often achieve beauty through design, rather than the use of precious metals or gems. Contemporary men and women are free to wear the jewelry of their choice, without restraint as what it’s made from or where on the body they wear it