A Brief History of Jewellery

Jewellery in it’s basic form has been around as long as man, with evidence showing that early humans have been around for approximately 6 to 7 million years, based on the recent find of a skull found in Central Africa. Early examples of jewellery were made from teeth, bones, shells, stone and wood. The jewellery initially was of a functional nature and was probably used to fasten clothing. It was later on that it began to be used for aesthetic purposes.

Recently discovered were mollusc shells that were perforated and thought to be strung into beads, which were found in South Africa. This mollusk jewellery has been dated to about 75,000 to 100,000 years ago. However, the earliest signs of man working with metal, date to over 10,000 years ago, when copper, silver and tin were harnessed to create tools and maybe jewellery.

Although jewellery was initially functional or aesthetic in purpose, in many cultures it began to develop a more religious significance and was often used as a symbol to ward off evil and to heal the body. Jewellery has also been used as a gift to offer in the form of worship and many people today can be seen wearing a cross around their neck to show their faith.

Jewellery will always be present in modern society and is often given as a sign of love or affection, never more so than when used in the marriage ceremony. The wedding ring is given as a symbol of eternity, with no beginning and no end. The beginning of the wedding ring lies in North Africa. The ancient Egyptians braided the rushes and reeds that sprang up along the fertile plains of the Delta to form the first wedding rings. The ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand as it is believed that the vein of this finger travels straight to the heart.

Jewellery has some part to play in history too. During the 16th century the Spaniards established an empire to acquire the gold and jewels of Peru and pre-Columbian Mexico. In the 1840′s there was mass migration to California, USA, due to gold being found in the region. These mining camps began to establish themselves as permanent towns, developing a new area and economy. Jewellers began to receive recognition as artists throughout the world. In Italy during the Renaissance period, jewellery making reached the status of fine art and many early sculptors started their career as goldsmiths.

The purpose of jewellery has changed very little over time. It is still used to show wealth or religious status. However, the main change has been how jewellery is manufactured. With the improvements in technology, jewellery can be more elaborate and manufactured at a lower cost, making it available to the masses. Modern Jewellery can be made from a variety of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum and often contains suitable gemstones such as diamonds or emeralds. There are even man made materials that have been developed such as cubic zirconia which is often referred to as Diamonique, which has been developed as a diamond substitute.

There is no doubt that jewellery has a magical property to it and that it has has stood the test of time. Rest assured jewellery is definitely here to stay.

By: Ryan Dalli

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