The Evolution of Jewelry

Even the earliest tribal cultures had some form of jewelry. Since these cultures predate the written word it is difficult to know why people chose to adorn themselves with bits of bone, feather, or shells. Maybe it was simply decorative. Maybe it was superstitious in nature and helped members of the tribe ward off some form of evil. Maybe it was to signify their role in society.

In any case as soon as humans gained a sense of self they found ways to craft art from the world around them with which to adorn themselves. Thus, jewelry was born.

In ancient Iran, Egypt, Greece and Rome jewelry was used to symbolize status. Specific stones were significant to different regions. For example, Egyptian jewelry would use gold to adorn pharaohs since it symbolized the sun. As more precious metals and stones were discovered they were incorporated into jewelry. The more status one had the more intricate their jewelry would be.

During this period there was a greater sense of myth and magic. In ancient Greece and Rome the jewelry you wore would signify with which gods you sought favor. Men would wear laurels on their heads to signify their house and status.

The Middle Ages were a darker time. Plague was rampant. Most of the wealth in the world was centralized in the church. The Crusades brought many gemstones and jewelry to Europe from the East but it remained as property of the church. Adornments during this time were simpler, even for royalty. In fact, it was frowned on for commoners to wear jewelry of any kind.

Jewelry was a way to show off wealth during this period. Men especially would use their jewelry to flaunt their wealth. Rings were worn to identify allegiance and would be used to seal wax signatures. Pendants became increasingly popular. Men would wear necklaces, rings and earrings with which to showcase their wealth and prosperity.

Similar to royal and elite fashions of the renaissance, pirate jewelry during the 1700s was used to display wealth. Earrings were extremely popular and would allow a pirate to keep his wealth on his person at all times. These hoop earrings were typically made from gold or silver and would be melted down to provide for his funeral in the case of an untimely death at sea.

The industrial revolution simplified the production of jewelry and made it more accessible for the common man. The rise of machinery made it easier to produce jewelry on a larger scale. Imitation gemstones became popular amongst the working class. It also became more common for jewelry to incorporate metalwork and stamping as this was easier to do in a factory setting.