Cheap Fashion Jewelry: A Brief History of Prehistoric Jewelry

Jewelry, used as a bodily adornment, has been used by humans since the beginning of time. In fact, jewelry is probably the oldest form of body decoration around. Researchers have recently discovered Nassarius shell beads which date back as far as 100,000 years ago. Jewelry has historically been used as a form of beautification, as well as for more practical purposes. Since time immemorial, it's been used to pin together pieces of clothes, for storing various items like coins, and to exhibit wealth and status. Many cultures around the globe still have remnants of ancient treasures consisting solely of decorations and precious stones. Traditionally in many societies, families used jewelry as part of their daughters' wedding dowry, to give to the family of the groom.

Jewelry During the Early Ages

Probably one of the earliest humans to use and make jewelry were the Cro-Magnons who lived about 40,000 years ago. Much of the jewelry they made was made out of mammoth tusk, stones and also bones and teeth. Jewelry fashioned out of mother of pearl has also been found in Cro-Magnon tombs. They crafted simple bracelets and necklaces using animal hide or sinew to suspend carved rocks or bones. Bones were used to clasp together pieces of clothing as well. The use of copper is dated to about 7,000 years ago.

The first really vested jewelry makers were the ancient Egyptians. About 3,000 or 5,000 years ago the Egyptians started using gold in their crafts. It soon became the preferred metal to use. Interestingly, the Egyptians favored pieces of colored glass over gemstones, of which they had an excess. Each color used in their glass jewelry was symbolic; thus, in order to get the desired color right, the Egyptians utilized very exact formulas for making colored glass. The color green signified fertility as well as the bounty of new crops; red symbolized the goddess Isis' desire and need for blood. Egyptians created their jewelry in workshops that were usually adjacent to temples or palaces.

In ancient Greece, women wore jewelry primarily during special occasions and for public events. Similar to modern times, jewelry was often bestowed as a gift and it was used to display a woman's social hierarchy, her weatlh and her beauty. Greek jewelry was composed primarily of emeralds, amethysts, pearls and gold. Later on, silver, clay, bronze and a variety of other gems gained popularity among the Greeks. Much of their jewelry had religious signification; other pieces supposedly endowed the wearer with protection or even supranatural powers. Jewelry that is worn today, such as the cameo, originated in ancient Greece.

Other peoples known for the craftsmenship of fine jewelry were the Romans. Brooches were an Roman invention used to fasten together articles of clothing. The Romans also frequently used imported substances such as emeralds, rubies, diamonds, amber and sapphire among other things. The women of Roman society adorned themselves lavishly with jewelry while men wore little more than one ring; however some men were known to wear a ring on each finger. Envelope seals were created using carved stone rings that were pressed into warm wax. This tradition continued through the middle ages amongst noblemen and kings.