Gifted Hands Store

More people today than ever before are able to afford the luxury of jewelry. Consider some of these historical facts about jewelry:

. Styles of jewelry and the materials of which it’s made vary from culture to culture.

. Social orders,religious customs, and the availability of raw materials play a large part

in the types of jewelry made.

. Everything from wood and clay to seashells and feathers has been used for personal

adornment through the ages.

Jewelry as Protection

Since the beginning of time people have tried to control their fate or destiny by assigning

special powers to all types of objects. They carried these objects around with them. Objects

such as stones and small images crafted of wood or clay. They would attach these items to

a piece of leather or vine and wear them around their neck or wrist. Such jewelry worn

because of it’s “special powers” is called amuletic jewelry.

Today people identify themselves with their beliefs by wearing different styles of crosses,

crystals, gemstones and occult symbols.

Opal. Ancient Romans believed opals fell from heaven during flashes of lightning. Opals

were the symbol of hope and purity for them.

Ruby. People thought rubies brought success, health, and wisdom in love to those who wore them.

Jewelry to Designate Rank and Authority

Social jewelry, developed through the social orders of many cultures in which jewelry was worn to designate

rank or authority among it’s members. Example of social jewelry is the crown jewels of England. The

underlying principle of both amuletic and social jewelry is-POWER

Jewelry is many times given to individuals as a reward for some accomplishment.

For example, the Super Bowl ring given to the winning team as a symbol of victory.

IT’S GREAT TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE HISTORY AS IT GIVES ME A BETTER APPRECIATION OF WHAT I LOVE- JEWELRY

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