Interesting Facts About Jewellery

Egyptian Jewellery

Every piece of jewellery beautifies your clothing or body parts. Nowadays, particular for the production of jewellery, artisans use precious metals, such as platinum, silver or gold, and high-quality metal alloys. There are various criteria by which you can classify the jewellery. For example, whether people intended to wear the jewellery for clothing or the body, or what shape is of the jewellery. We will distinguish in this article between bracelets, rings and necklace. The part of the body to which the jewellery is attached is also crucial, for example, finger jewellery, arm jewellery or neck jewellery. Another criterion is the material that people use to make jewellery.

Traditionally, the ring was the first jewellery used in the engagement in the world’s history. Subsequently, giving an engagement ring to the fiancé had become mandatory in all cultures. You can visit Segal Jewellery to see the latest designs of the engagement rings. 

History

The General History of Jewellery

Since the very beginning of humankind, people are using jewellery. Current studies indicate that people used to use shells to decorate themselves 100,000 years ago. Even in the Paleolithic era, people adorned their neck with chains. In the Stone Age, people made necklaces from snail shells and shells. Further, they also used to use Pearls, fish vertebrae, and animal teeth to make jewellery. People loved to make the chain pendants from stones, bones or amber.

When people discovered the various ways of processing bronze and copper, they shaped the materials into disks, rings, metal beads, platelets and spiral rolls. In the beginning, hatchets or axes were just jewellery, as they were still too soft compared to stone tools. So there was a certain time lag between the mere decorative function of the tools and their practical use. Therefore, the use of animal teeth and other organic substances, as well as amber, slowly decreased over time.

In the Bronze Age, people discovered Metal processing that was followed by glass production. Moreover, in the 20th century, even the development of entirely new materials, such as plastic. As a result, people started using a variety of materials in the production of jewellery that was able to expand over time. Since in that era, people were using precious and valuable metals for the production of jewellery, it has also been used more and more as an application in barter shops.

Functions and Tasks

Jewellery for Social and Practical Purpose

Jewellery can only serve an aesthetic function. However, people also use it for a social and practical purpose. They often decorated the common items of everyday use, but articles that people only intended as jewellery could also assign a value in use. Good examples of this type of jewellery, which also has a useful function, are the signet ring, that people used in Roman and Greek times to sign contracts by wax or clay.

If, for example, you find a special symbol on an amulet, which has a unique ability, then this mystical effect can benefit the wearer of the jewellery. Therefore, jewellery always has a kind of signal effect; it can express a specific belonging or social status. A great example that is still very important today is the wedding ring, the crown of a king or the ring of a bishop.

Jewellery as an Emergency Reserve

Jewellery can also serve as a means of payment and a reserve of value. Especially in poorly developed countries, the gold jewellery, which women wear permanently on their bodies, serves as an emergency reserve for bad times. Until the 19th century, sailors and fishers from Friesland used to wear a gold ring in their ears, the value of which would have made it possible to finance a Christian funeral - if they drown and go to a different coast would be rinsed.

Jewellery for Skin Protection and Expression of Tribal Affiliation

Jewellery in the form of body painting, on the one hand, has a strong signal effect and can correspond to a war painting or express the tribal affiliation. In addition, it also protects the skin from the intense sunshine and bites from insects. In ancient Egypt, it was common to apply make-up with galena and malachite. This was for aesthetic reasons, but also to protect against the glare of sunlight and flies. Intimate and breast piercings also have an aesthetic function, but are also said to cause sexual stimulation through their mechanical stimulus.

Change Over Time

In the earliest times, people served various materials as jewellery.  Regardless of whether the jewellery served religious purposes or only served an ornamental purpose - the demands and creativity increased more and more. Already in the Stone Age, people started to develop body awareness and adorn themselves. At that time, they used to make necklaces from shells or the teeth of prey. Then the discovery of gemstones happened for the production of jewellery until later the precious metals became an integral part of the jewellery.

The Egyptians first reached unprecedented heights in the manufacture of jewellery. They did perfect mining of precious metals in the process of precious stones. The Egyptians were the first to connect the individual components, thus producing pieces of jewellery of great value, which still preserves its fascination today. Breathtaking and unique pieces of jewellery are still often found, which are placed in the tombs of pharaohs so that in the next life the deities also became part of splendour and wealth.

In the Baroque period, pompous and exaggerated pieces of jewellery that people lavishly and richly set with gemstones and diamonds were very popular. All of these epochs had in common that only the higher level of jewellery was reserved. It was the visible signal to the outside for power and prosperity.

Over time, however, jewellery was not reserved exclusively for higher positions in society. Thanks to the new manufacturing techniques, small and medium-sized businesses were soon able to afford jewellery. The main focus here was on gold jewellery and jewellery decorated with precious stones.

Jewellery production continued to develop so that people can soon use new shapes and materials. The production was now artistically sound. The jewellery was no longer exclusively noble and expensive but was also able to reflect religious beliefs, moods and attitudes to life. The jewellery also had a symbolic effect and showed social status. The cross is probably the best-known example of a religious symbol used in jewellery making.

Nowadays, it is quite normal to wear jewellery. There is still a lot of jewellery in the luxury segment available, but there is also a variety of jewellery that is affordable for everyone.

Many traditions have formed around the topic of jewellery. Starting with the ancient Egyptians and their grave goods, to a wedding ring, partner ring or engagement ring, which are very popular today. Of course, engagement is also valid without a ring. An absolute must is the exchange of the rings during the wedding ceremony itself. Another traditional tradition, namely the morning gift, is connected with the in. As a sign of love and appreciation, the groom presents a piece of jewellery to the bride in the morning after the wedding day.

Nowadays, besides real jewellery, fashion jewellery is particularly well received that is not real gold or silver jewellery. It is a cheap alternative, which has a strong influence on current fashion trends.