A Brief History of Jewelry-Making

The art of jewelry-making dates back thousands of years. It is said that the Neanderthals were the first to create jewelry. They liked to make beads from seashells, animal teeth and ivory. Luckily, rarely anyone uses these materials anymore.

Jewelry-making was largely influenced by geography, customs and regionally available materials. Countries in the Far East like China as well as countries on the Persian Gulf were the first to make jewelry out of pearls. The Chinese were the first to use jade; this gorgeous green stone is still very much revered in China.

The Ancient Egyptians made talismans, amulets, bracelets, necklaces and diadems out of gold and adorned them with gemstones or stained glass.

The Ancient Greeks’ taste in jewelry was greatly influenced by populations to the east. Alexander the Great’s power across a significant part of Asia influenced Greek jewelry-making and had precious stones came in from places like India and Sri Lanka through the Silk Road.

The Romans used both precious and semi-precious stones, including rubies, sapphires, pearls and topaz. This rich variety was due to the colossal size of its empire and ability to source stones from different regions.

Jewelry-making continued to evolve through the centuries. In Victorian England, precious stones became scarce, so the Victorians took to ancient intricate metalwork. They made jewelry out of cannetille–spirally twisted gold or silver thread–and out of filigree, another type of elaborate metalwork. This produced delicate and beautiful lace-looking artistic motifs. Influenced by the Italians, the Victorians also turned to the art of micro-mosaics and cameo carving.

Today, jewelry-making continues to be a vibrant art form. Even if much of the jewelry made today is influenced by the past, innovative artists are creating pieces using new and original methods, styles and materials. Many full of personality and worth discovering.

TEXT BY FATIMA RIZZO