Women’s bracelets carried immense cultural significance in ancient times and they still do. In Perus pre-Hispanic societies, gold represented the sun, and jewelry indicated social status and identity, as it also did among the Maya of Mexico and Central America. In India, bangles or kangans showed a woman was married and are a part of the 16 adornments customarily worn by a Hindu bride. Traditional West African beads are a sign of cultural identity. Each one has a meaning and tells a story.Today, women’s bracelets are still culturally significant.
- The pieces are no longer simple metalwork, but are now masterful examples of jewellery making.
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- Necklaces should be free from dents, and beads should stay fastened in place.
- All of our gold is 100% recycled, sustainably handmade, casted, polished and perfected by seventh generation craftsmen.
The Incas, for example, believed that gold was a sacred metal sent by the sun god, Inti, and all mines belonged to the emperor, who protected his metals with great zeal. Silver and gold, for example, are frequently used to make earrings because of their luster and shine. Each region puts its own unique touch on the art of earring-making. Most use some combination of silver, gold, gemstones, wooden or glass beads, and bones. Some regions, like West Africa, have found ways to introduce up-cycling into the jewelry-making process. Recycled plastic and paper beads, as well as coconut shells are commonly integrated into beautiful works of earring art.
Jewellery making developed in the Americas 5,000 years ago in Central and South America. Large amounts of gold was easily accessible, and the Aztecs, Mixtecs, Mayans, and numerous Andean cultures, such as the Mochica of Peru, created beautiful pieces of jewellery. India was the first country to mine diamonds, with some mines dating back to 296 BC. India traded the diamonds, realising their valuable qualities.
Born in Lima, Peru, Master Jeweler Fermin Vilcapoma traces his beginnings as a silversmith to age eleven, when, after school, he first began helping his father at the family’s workshop. “I attended school in the morning, but I was always daydreaming, creating new designs,” Vilcapoma recalls… Global artisans use all sorts of materials in their handcrafted jewelry for men. In the Andes, sterling silver, leather, and combinations of natural stones are frequently used. In Bali, silver, gold, bone, wood, brass, and stainless copper adorn handmade jewelry. In West Africa, men’s jewelry honors the cow, where bone and horns are incorporated into unique pieces.
With thousands of earrings, rings, and necklaces on the market, it can feel difficult for a girl to find a way to stand out nowadays. If you’re tired of the same old jewelry, check out our Gemstone jewelry collection. Cufflinks, for example, are a wonderful opportunity to get creative or show some extra class during your next formal outing.
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The Greeks took much of their designs from outer origins, such as Asia, when Alexander the Great conquered part of it. In earlier designs, other European influences can also be detected. When Roman rule came to Greece, no change in jewellery designs was detected. Jewelry News However, by 27 BC, Greek designs were heavily influenced by the Roman culture. Numerous polychrome butterfly pendants on silver foxtail chains, dating from the 1st century, have been found near Olbia, with only one example ever found anywhere else.
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Similarly, necklaces from Bali often depict deities from the Hindu pantheon. In India, a womans jewelry is linked to her status in society and may depict Hindu gods as well as mantra symbols such as the omkara, the root of all sounds and the emblem of the Most High. Angel necklaces and harmony ball necklaces are often worn by pregnant women in Bali and in Mexico. The pendant makes a delicate bell sound, thought to soothe the mother and the baby she is carrying.
River Island crystal open circle earrings in gold tone
The precious metals should be nicely finished, and beads should not be too tightly strung. Well-made necklaces reflect excellent craftsmanship and attractive materials. Most modern commercial jewellery continues traditional forms and styles, but designers such as Georg Jensen have widened the concept of wearable art. The advent of new materials, such as plastics, Precious Metal Clay , and colouring techniques, has led to increased variety in styles. Blue kingfisher feathers were tied onto early Chinese jewellery and later, blue gems and glass were incorporated into designs.
It has endured for thousands of years and has provided various insights into how ancient cultures worked. Now popular in engagement rings, this usage dates back to the marriage of Maximilian I to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. Pliny may have mentioned them, although there is some debate as to the exact nature of the stone he referred to as Adamas. In 2005, Australia, Botswana, Russia and Canada ranked among the primary sources of gemstone diamond production. There are negative consequences of the diamond trade in certain areas.