How Much Do You Know About Jewelry?
Every day we see women and men wearing all different types of jewelry without really stopping to think about it. Why do people wear jewelry and when did the practice start? What types of jewelry do people wear and what purposes does it serve? What metals and gems do people use to make jewelry and how many different types are there?
A Brief History
There is a great deal of archeological evidence which proves that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all wore jewelry. Most Egyptian jewelry was made out of gold. The ancient Greeks used gold and gems like amethysts, garnets and pearls to fashion necklaces and earrings. The Romans used many materials including wood, gold, amber, emeralds and garnets to make their trinkets.
In thirteenth century Medieval Europe a law was passed in some countries that made it illegal for all but the wealthiest people to wear sumptuous clothing and decoration. Every individual had to dress according to their station in life and certain jewels and materials were strictly prohibited for those below a certain rank.
By the seventeenth century jewelry was considered a fundamental part of a woman’s wardrobe. A lady would not be seen in public without her earrings and ornaments. The most precious jewelry in a woman’s collection was saved for evening wear. However it was not until the Victorian era that the widespread use of jewelry extended to the United States. Advances in technology meant that it became easier to manufacture jewelry so that more people could wear it. However, the wealthiest women still wore fine expertly crafted items.
Different Types
Today women around the world wear all different types of jewelry. We adorn our heads with earrings, nose rings, nose chains and tiaras. We wear chokers and necklaces around our necks and beautify our wrists and hands with rings and bracelets. Some women also wear ankle bracelets and toe rings so that even their feet look pretty. Other items of jewelry include brooches, pendants; belly button rings, belly chains and armlets.
Today jewelry is generally made out of metals such as platinum, yellow, white and rose gold, silver, titanium, tungsten, stainless steel and rhodium. Some jewelry also contains precious gems such as diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires or semiprecious gems like amethysts, pearls, citrine, aquamarine, turquoise, jade, lapis lazuli, bloodstone, amber, quartz and onyx.
Technological advances mean that it is possible to produce many gems synthetically in a laboratory. For instance some people wear rings, bracelets, necklaces and earrings that include cubic zirconia. It doesn’t cost much to make cubic zirconia synthetically but it looks very similar to a real diamond and is almost as resilient.
Reasons For Wearing It
Why do women (or men) wear jewelry? The most obvious reason why we wear it is to enhance the physical appearance. The right bracelet or pair of earrings can compliment an outfit to make the wearer feel more attractive and self confident. Nevertheless there are also other reasons why people choose to wear jewelry.
Some people like to wear items that contain certain precious or semiprecious gems because they believe that they can restore their mental, physical or spiritual wellbeing by balancing internal energies or chakras. For example the semiprecious gem amber is purported to heal or at least ease medical conditions such as bronchial infections, asthma, convulsions, earache and rheumatoid arthritis. Reiki healers also claim that amber will calm and relax any individual who wears it.
Many people also wear jewelry as a token of their faith. Crucifixes, St Christopher pendants, purity rings, mezuzah pendants, rosary beads, Star of David necklaces, Islamic prayer beads and Buddhist symbol bracelets are just some of the items that are used or worn for religious purposes. People throughout history have worn jewelry for practical purposes too. Items that have a particular use include amulets, military dog tags, medical alert bracelets and signet rings.
Crystal Bead Sterling Silver Rosary-Style 28 Necklace
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NEW WOOD BEADS MACRAME ROSARY NECKLACE CROSS CRUCIFIX with JESUS SILVER IMPRINT $5.06 |
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STERLING SILVER ROSARY. APPROX. 20″ LONG , APPROX. 0.805 TROY OZ. $45.00 |
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Rosary Necklace – PURPLE Diamond-Cut Cube Beads w Silver Tone Detail Crucifix $7.79 |
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STERLING SILVER ROSARY. APPROX. 20″ LONG , APPROX. 0.775 TROY OZ, $40.75 |
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Carmelite Nuns Antique Carved Jet Bead & Filigree Silver Sick Bed Rosary $199.00 |
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CREED Aqua with Lavender Cloisonne Large Silver Rosary! $129.90 |
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Solid Sterling Silver & Swarovski pearl Wedding Rosary for the Bride-to-be $149.95 |
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Men’s Rosary – MEDIUM STAIN – Wood Beads on Silver Tone Chain – MASCULINE $12.99 |
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ANTIQUE SILVER PLATED MEDAL & CRUCIFIX FOR A ROSARY $34.50 |
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STERLING SILVER ROSARY. APPROX. 22″ LONG . APPROX. 0.730 TROY OZ. $36.34 |
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Black Faux Pearl Beads Silver P Jesus Cross Pendant Rosary Necklace HipHop Style $0.99 |
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Fashion Red Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $1.04 |
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STERLING SILVER ROSARY NECKLACE WITH A MIRACULOUS MEDAL AND ST BENEDICT CROSS!!! $39.99 |
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Fashion White Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $0.99 |
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Fashion Blue Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $1.04 |
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Rosary Necklace – CLEAR Diamond-Cut Cube Beads w Silver Tone Detail Crucifix $7.79 |
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Corlorful Flower Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $2.25 |
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Blue Flower Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $1.04 |
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Rare Saint St.Benedict Medal Rosary Case Prayer Silver $24.91 |
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Purple Flower Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $0.99 |
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Heartfelt Rosaries Sterling Silver Pink Rhodochrosite Unbreakable Wire Wrap $289.00 |
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Red Velvet Quartz German Silver Unbreakable Catholic WireWrap HeartFelt Rosaries $249.00 |
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Heartfelt Rosaries Sterling Silver Green Amethyst Unbreakable Wire Wrap Custom $670.00 |
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Pink Acrylic Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $0.99 |
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Rosary Necklace – HOT PINK Diamond-Cut Cube Beads w Silver Tone Detail Crucifix $7.79 |
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Red Crystal Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $0.99 |
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Purple olivet Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $0.99 |
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Rosary Necklace Silver tone Beaded Chain Cross 28″ Long $4.47 |
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6MM Rose Glass Rosary Beads Catholic Necklace Silver P Cross Crucifix Necklace $0.99 |
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Rosary Ring Solid Sterling Silver size 12 Free sizing) $9.99 |
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Rosary Ring Solid Sterling Silver .925 size 9 1/2 $9.99 |
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Rosary Ring Solid Sterling Silver .925 size 6 $9.99 |
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Rosary Necklace – AMBER Diamond-Cut Cube Beads w Silver Tone Detail Crucifix $7.79 |
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Vintage All Sterling Silver Rosary Creed Sterling $61.00 |
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Gift Lot Rosary Saint Benedict Crucifix Cross Silver $9.95 |
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Silver Vintage Cross Rosary Necklaces Prayer Catholic Holy Land Jerusalem Jesusu $1.99 |
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2 Rosary Lot St Saint Benedict Silver Gild Medal & Madonna W Crushed Rose Petals $17.85 |
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SHINY SILVER PLATE ROSARY STYLE 3 TIER NECKLACE $24.99 |
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Antique 10 Bead Rosary – Hand Carved Ox Bone Beads – Sterling Silver $55.00 |
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Vintage Sterling Silver Wood Bead Rosary $12.75 |
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Repousse Sterling Silver Jeweled Icon Virgin Mary & Child Rosary Case $27.99 |
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Sterling silver Black lampwork /pearl rosary bracelet $23.75 |
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ANTIQUE VINTAGE Communion Rosary, Italian! Incl. Plaque $99.95 |
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Black Glass Beads Holy Pray Rosary Silver Plated Crucifix Cross $2.99 |
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Blue Glass Beads Holy Pray Rosary Silver Plated Crucifix Cross $2.99 |
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beautiful white pearls beads rosary braclet silver 1990 $7.99 |
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King Baby Rosary W/ MB Cross & Day Of The Dead Heart $1,200.00 |
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VINTAGE MEXICAN ABALONE STERLING SILVER EARRINGS SIGNED $39.50 |
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Black Glass Beads Holy Pray Rosary Silver Plated Crucifix Cross $2.99 |
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Blue Glass Beads Holy Pray Rosary Silver Plated Crucifix Cross $2.99 |
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Cross Only! Rosary Silver P Lot 30 $24.95 |
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Rosary Necklace – CLEAR Diamond-Cut Cube Beads – Detailed Silver Tone Crucifix $7.99 |
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STERLING SILVER 26 INCH ROSARY CROSS NECKLACE $34.99 |
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ROSARY STYLE BEADS CROSS PENDANT SILVER NECKLACE RELIGIOUS CHRISTIAN JEWELRY $5.99 |
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Wood Bead Rosary Silver Gold Tone Cross Necklace Black $6.99 |
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red rosary beads silver chain catholic prayer rosaries praying cross beaads lord $1.99 |
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Rosary Silver Crucifix Faceted Bicone Beaded Strand Necklace Cross FREE Gift Box $4.95 |
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Rosario Sinaloense, Silver Rosary Bling Alterado Buchon A La Moda Jersey Shore $65.00 |
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P17. Very old wooden rosary with silver cross. $7.00 |
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Large Vintage Sterling Silver Creed Crystal Crucifix Rosary Very Fine $49.99 |
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Magnabar 12 $31.95 Magnetic bar holds tools, knives, and helps organize workspace, making tools easily accessible to reach and put away…. |
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Bible and rosary, Le Souillard, Eure, France, Europe Photo Mugs Bible and rosary, Le Souillard, Eure, France, Europe…. |
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Close-up of a Rosary Photo Mugs Close-up of a Rosary…. |
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Acoustic Victor & HMV recordings (1912-1914) $20.98 … |
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Great Voices of the Century V.2 $19.99 3 CD set from the Rajon ‘Great Series’. 66 tracks. 2005…. |
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La Preciosa Sterling Silver Rosary Bead and Cross Necklace $98.99 A delicate cross design hangs from this classic 24-inch rosary necklace from Divine Silver. This religious jewelry is crafted of sterling silver with a ball and link design and easy slip-on styling. |
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La Preciosa Tri-color Sterling Silver Rosary Necklace $69.99 This pretty tri-color rosary necklace from La Preciosa features a crucifix with faceted metal beads. Crafted of .925 sterling silver, this religious jewelry offers easy slip-on styling for comfortable wear. |
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Gold over Sterling Silver 24-inch Rosary Necklace $106.99 This 18-karat yellow gold over .925 sterling silver rosary features highly polished bead balls. This lovely necklace is crafted in Italy. |
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Caribe Gold 14k over Sterling Silver Black Czech Glass Rosary Necklace $43.49 Elegant rosary necklace features a crucifix pendant and jet black Czech glass beadsReligious jewelry crafted in 14-karat goldplated sterling silverRosary necklace is a wonderful reminder of your religious devotion |
