95-429: A necklace is an article of jewellery that is worn around the neck . Necklaces may have been one of the earliest types of adornment worn by humans. They often serve ceremonial , religious , magical , or funerary purposes and are also used as symbols of wealth and status, given that they are commonly made of precious metals and stones. The main component of a necklace is the band, chain , or cord that wraps around
190-405: A semiprecious stone, is often used in jewelry . Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz ( SiO 2 ) and owes its violet color to irradiation , impurities of iron ( Fe ) and in some cases other transition metals , and the presence of other trace elements, which result in complex crystal lattice substitutions. The irradiation causes the iron Fe ions that replace Si in
285-617: A clear indicator of Greek influence in Etruscan jewellery. The modelling of heads, which was a typical practice from the Greek severe period, was a technique that spread throughout the Etruscan territory. An even clearer evidence of new influences is the shape introduced in the Orientalizing era: The Bullae. A pear-shaped vessel used to hold perfume. Its surface was usually decorated with repoussé and engraved symbolic figures. Amethyst Amethyst
380-503: A common hanfu accessory being used by Hanfu enthusiasts since the Hanfu Movement . It comes in variety of styles, shapes, and materials. Aboriginal Tasmanian women have been making shell necklaces from maireener ( Phasianotrochus irisodontes ) shells for at least 2,600 years, with some major collections in museums. The continuation of the practice is being threatened by reducing supply, and sixth-generation Palawa woman Lola Greeno
475-540: A court necklace called chaozhu ( Chinese : 朝珠 ) , was worn by the Qing dynasty emperors and other members of the imperial family. The court necklace originated from a Buddhist rosary sent in 1643 by the Dalai Lama to the first emperor of the Qing dynasty. The necklace is composed of 108 small beads, with 4 large beads of contrasting stones to symbolize the 4 seasons, and was placed between groups of 27 beads. The necklace
570-595: A deficit of gold, and wrought patterns and animal forms into neck-rings. In the Gothic period necklaces were uncommon, though there are a few records of diamond, ruby, and pearl necklaces. It was not until the adoption of lower necklines later in the Middle Ages that necklaces became common. 1400–1500 : During the Renaissance it was fashionable for men to wear a number of chains, plaques, and pendants around their necks, and by
665-531: A light lavender or pale violet to a deep purple. Amethyst may exhibit one or both secondary hues, red and blue. High-quality amethyst can be found in Siberia , Sri Lanka , Brazil , Uruguay , and the Far East. The ideal grade, called "Deep Siberian", has a primary purple hue of around 75–80%, with 15–20% blue and (depending on the light source) red secondary hues. "Rose de France" is defined by its markedly light shade of
760-567: A natural feel. However, any inclusion of lead or lead solder will give a British Assay office (the body which gives U.K. jewellery its stamp of approval, the Hallmark ) the right to destroy the piece, however, it is very rare for the assay office to do so. Beads are frequently used in jewellery. These may be made of glass, gemstones, metal, wood , shells, clay and polymer clay. Beaded jewellery commonly encompasses necklaces , bracelets , earrings , belts and rings . Beads may be large or small;
855-938: A responsible and modern alternative to mined diamonds. Retailers are responding to this trend by expanding their offerings of lab-grown diamond jewellery, further solidifying their place in the market. Many precious and semiprecious stones are used for jewellery. Among them are: Some gemstones (like pearls, coral, and amber) are classified as organic, meaning that they are produced by living organisms. Others are inorganic, meaning that they are generally composed of and arise from minerals. Some gems, for example, amethyst , have become less valued as methods of extracting and importing them have progressed. Some man-made gems can serve in place of natural gems, such as cubic zirconia , which can be used in place of diamonds. For platinum , gold , and silver jewellery, there are many techniques to create finishes. The most common are high-polish, satin/matte, brushed , and hammered. High-polished jewellery
950-593: A resurgence of pearl necklaces, in addition to a dog-collar style of necklace made of gold or platinum with inset diamonds, emeralds, or rubies. The Art Nouveau movement inspired symbolic, abstract designs with natural and animal motifs. The materials used – glass, porcelain, bronze, ivory, mother of pearl, horn, and enamel – were not used for their value, but for their appearance. 1910–1970: Chanel popularised costume jewellery , and ropes of glass beads were common. The Art Deco movement created chunky, geometric jewellery that combined multiple types of gems and steel. By
1045-448: A ring can be classified: prong, bezel and tension setting. Synthetic diamonds, also referred to as lab-grown diamonds, are created using advanced technological processes such as High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) . These methods result in diamonds that are chemically and physically identical to natural diamonds , offering the same brilliance and durability. The popularity of synthetic diamonds in
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#17328488685261140-602: A rounded steel hammer and hammering the jewellery to give it a wavy texture . Some jewellery is plated to give it a shiny, reflective look or to achieve a desired colour. Sterling silver jewellery may be plated with a thin layer of 0.999 fine silver (a process known as flashing) or plated with rhodium or gold. Base metal costume jewellery may also be plated with silver, gold, or rhodium for a more attractive finish. Jewellery has been used to denote status. In ancient Rome, only certain ranks could wear rings and later, sumptuary laws dictated who could wear what type of jewellery. This
1235-534: A shorter necklace, brooches , and a bracelet. Highly embellished Gothic style necklaces from England reflected the crenelations, vertical lines and high relief of the cathedrals. Empress Eugénie popularised bare décolletage with multiple necklaces on the throat, shoulders, and bosom. There was also an interest in antiquity; mosaic jewellery and Roman and Greek necklaces were reproduced. Machine-made jewellery and electroplating allowed for an influx of inexpensive imitation necklaces. 1870–1910: The Edwardian era saw
1330-481: A single crystal ) can be used to identify most synthetic amethyst rather easily. Synthesizing twinned amethyst is possible, but this type is not available in large quantities in the market. Treated amethyst is produced by gamma ray , X-ray , or electron-beam irradiation of clear quartz ( rock crystal ), which has been first doped with ferric impurities. Exposure to heat partially cancels the irradiation effects and amethyst generally becomes yellow or even green. Much of
1425-454: A statue of pure crystalline quartz to protect her from the brutal claws. Dionysus wept tears of wine in remorse for his action at the sight of the beautiful statue. The god's tears then stained the quartz purple. This myth and its variations are not found in classical sources. However, the goddess Rhea does present Dionysus with an amethyst stone to preserve the wine-drinker's sanity in historical text. Tibetans consider amethyst sacred to
1520-470: A status symbol, for its material properties, its patterns, or for meaningful symbols. Jewellery has been made to adorn nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings , and even genital jewellery . In modern European culture the amount worn by adult males is relatively low compared with other cultures and other periods in European culture. The word jewellery itself is derived from the word jewel , which
1615-560: A stone bracelet and marble ring are attributed to a similar age. Later, the European early modern humans had crude necklaces and bracelets of bone, teeth, berries, and stone hung on pieces of string or animal sinew , or pieces of carved bone used to secure clothing together. In some cases, jewellery had shell or mother-of-pearl pieces. A decorated engraved pendant (the Star Carr Pendant ) dating to around 11,000 BC, and thought to be
1710-461: A two-to-one margin. In French and a few other European languages the equivalent term, joaillerie , may also cover decorated metalwork in precious metal such as objets d'art and church items, not just objects worn on the person. Humans have used jewellery for a number of different reasons: Most cultures at some point have had a practice of keeping large amounts of wealth stored in the form of jewellery. Numerous cultures store wedding dowries in
1805-791: A variety of precious and semi-precious materials were also commonly strung together to create necklaces. Gold that was fashioned into stylised plant, animal, and insect shapes were common as well. Amulets were also turned into necklaces. In Ancient Crete necklaces were worn by all classes; peasants wore stones on flax thread while the wealthy wore beads of agate, pearl , carnelian, amethyst , and rock crystal . Pendants shaped into birds, animals, and humans were also worn, in addition to paste beads. In Ancient Greece , delicately made gold necklaces created with repoussé and plaited gold wires were worn. Most often these necklaces were ornamented with blue or green enameled rosettes, animal shapes, or vase-shaped pendants that were often detailed with fringes. It
1900-548: A war zone and sold to finance an insurgency . The British crown jewels contain the Cullinan Diamond , part of the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found (1905), at 3,106.75 carats (621.35 g). Now popular in engagement rings , this usage dates back to the marriage of Maximilian I to Mary of Burgundy in 1477. A popular style is the diamond solitaire, which features a single large diamond mounted prominently. Within solitaire, there are three categories in which
1995-400: A woman's death it was sold at the souk and recycled or sold to passers-by. Islamic jewellery from before the 19th century is thus exceedingly rare. The history of jewellery is long and goes back many years, with many different uses among different cultures. It has endured for thousands of years and has provided various insights into how ancient cultures worked. The earliest known Jewellery
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#17328488685262090-493: Is a violet variety of quartz . The name comes from the Koine Greek αμέθυστος amethystos from α- a- , "not" and μεθύσκω ( Ancient Greek ) methysko / μεθώ metho ( Modern Greek ), "intoxicate", a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness . Ancient Greeks wore amethyst and carved drinking vessels from it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. Amethyst,
2185-456: Is also very popular in many African and indigenous North American cultures. Silversmiths , goldsmiths , and lapidaries use methods including forging , casting , soldering or welding , cutting, carving and "cold-joining" (using adhesives , staples and rivets to assemble parts). Diamonds were first mined in India . Pliny may have mentioned them, although there is some debate as to
2280-571: Is at Four Peaks, Gila and Maricopa Counties , Arizona, and Jackson's Crossroads, Wilkes County, Georgia . Smaller occurrences have been reported in the Red Feather Lakes , near Fort Collins, Colorado ; Amethyst Mountain, Texas ; Yellowstone National Park ; Delaware County, Pennsylvania ; Haywood County, North Carolina ; Deer Hill and Stow, Maine , and in the Lake Superior region of Minnesota , Wisconsin , and Michigan . Amethyst
2375-670: Is concerned that the practice will die out. Necklaces are typically classified by length: Pectoral ornaments are jewellery items that are also used similar to a necklace, such as reimiro , and ancient Egyptian pectorals . Non-jewellery items, for example lanyards , for holding badges and cards, are similar to a necklace and are worn on a neck. Jewellery Jewellery (or jewelry in American English ) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment such as brooches , rings , necklaces , earrings , pendants , bracelets , and cufflinks . Jewellery may be attached to
2470-516: Is found in many locations around the world. Between 2000 and 2010, the greatest production was from Marabá and Pau d'Arco , Pará, and the Paraná Basin , Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Sandoval, Santa Cruz, Bolivia ; Artigas, Uruguay; Kalomo, Zambia ; and Thunder Bay, Ontario . Lesser amounts are found in many other locations in Africa, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Russia, Afghanistan, South Korea, Mexico, and
2565-526: Is produced by a synthesis method called hydrothermal growth, which grows the crystals inside a high-pressure autoclave. Synthetic amethyst is made to imitate the best quality amethyst. Its chemical and physical properties are the same as those of natural amethyst, and it cannot be differentiated with absolute certainty without advanced gemmological testing (which is often cost-prohibitive). One test based on "Brazil law twinning" (a form of quartz twinning where right- and left-hand quartz structures are combined in
2660-830: Is relatively common in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia . The largest amethyst mine in North America is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Amethyst is the official state gemstone of South Carolina . Several South Carolina amethysts are on display at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History . Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems . The ancient Greeks believed amethyst gems could prevent intoxication, while medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle in
2755-648: Is the 'Gold Olive Wreath' (4th century BC), which is modeled on the type of wreath given as a prize for winners in athletic competitions like the Olympic Games. Jewellery dating from 600 to 475 BC is not well represented in the archaeological record, but after the Persian wars the quantity of jewellery again became more plentiful. One particularly popular type of design at this time was a bracelet decorated with snake and animal-heads Because these bracelets used considerably more metal, many examples were made from bronze. By 300 BC,
2850-419: Is the most common and gives the metal a highly reflective, shiny look. Satin, or matte finish reduces the shine and reflection of the jewellery, and this is commonly used to accentuate gemstones such as diamonds . Brushed finishes give the jewellery a textured look and are created by brushing a material (similar to sandpaper) against the metal, leaving "brush strokes". Hammered finishes are typically created using
2945-423: Is usually sterling silver , or 92.5% fine silver. In costume jewellery , stainless steel findings are sometimes used. Other commonly used materials include glass , such as fused-glass or enamel ; wood , often carved or turned; shells and other natural animal substances such as bone and ivory ; natural clay ; polymer clay ; Hemp and other twines have been used as well to create jewellery that has more of
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3040-411: The changmingsuo protect children from evil spirits and bad luck by locking its wearer's soul and life inside of the lock. The changmingsuo is often made with precious materials, such as gold, silver, and jade, and having auspicious words carved on it. This form of necklace continues to be worn in present-days China. Yingluo ( simplified Chinese : 璎珞 ; traditional Chinese : 瓔珞 )
3135-571: The Age of Enlightenment gowns often featured a neck ruffle which women accented with neck ribbons rather than traditional necklaces, but some women did wear chokers inlaid with rubies and diamonds. Seed pearls were introduced to the United States during the Federalist Era , leading to an increase in lacy pearl necklaces. 1800–1870: The low necklines of the court gowns fashionable at this time led to
3230-584: The Bronze Age metallic jewellery had replaced pre-metallic adornments. Necklaces were first depicted in statuary and art of the Ancient Near East , and early necklaces made of precious metals with inset stones were created in Europe. In Ancient Mesopotamia , cylinder seals were often strung and worn as jewellery. In Ancient Babylon , necklaces were made of carnelian , lapis lazuli , agate , and gold , which
3325-601: The Buddha and make prayer beads from it. Amethyst is considered the birthstone of February. In the Middle Ages, it was considered a symbol of royalty and used to decorate English regalia. In the Old World , amethyst was considered one of the cardinal gems , in that it was one of the five gemstones considered precious above all others, until large deposits were found in Brazil. Until
3420-482: The Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in drusy cavities in granitic rocks . Amethyst was historically mined in many localities in south India , though these are no longer significant producers. One of the largest global amethyst producers is Zambia in southern Africa , with an annual production around 1000 tons. Amethyst occurs at many localities in the United States. The most important production
3515-514: The Near East. Later in the empire, following barbarian invasions, colorful and gaudy jewellery became popular. In the Byzantine era , ropes of pearls and embossed gold chains were most often worn, but new techniques such as the use of niello allowed for necklaces with brighter, more predominant gemstones . The Early Byzantine Era also saw a shift to distinctly Christian jewellery which displayed
3610-664: The Royal Cemetery of Ur , where hundreds of burials dating 2900–2300 BC were unearthed; tombs such as that of Puabi contained a multitude of artefacts in gold, silver, and semi-precious stones, such as lapis lazuli crowns embellished with gold figurines, close-fitting collar necklaces, and jewel-headed pins. In Assyria , men and women both wore extensive amounts of jewellery, including amulets , ankle bracelets, heavy multi-strand necklaces, and cylinder seals . Jewellery in Mesopotamia tended to be manufactured from thin metal leaf and
3705-417: The citrine , cairngorm , or yellow quartz of jewelry is said to be merely "burnt amethyst". The Greek word amethystos may be translated as "not drunken", from Greek a- , "not" + methustos , "intoxicated". Amethyst was considered to be a strong antidote against drunkenness. {{efn| In his poem "L'Amethyste, ou les Amours de Bacchus et d'Amethyste" (Amethyst or the loves of Bacchus and Amethyste),
3800-418: The purple , reminiscent of a lavender / lilac shade. These pale colors were once considered undesirable, but have recently become popular due to intensive marketing. Green quartz is sometimes called green amethyst ; the scientific name is prasiolite . Other names for green quartz are vermarine and lime citrine . Amethyst frequently shows color zoning, with the most intense color typically found at
3895-436: The 18th century, amethyst was included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones (along with diamond , sapphire , ruby , and emerald ), but since the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil, it has lost most of its value. It is now considered a semiprecious stone. Collectors look for depth of color, possibly with red flashes if cut conventionally. As amethyst is readily available in large structures,
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3990-612: The 1960s costume jewellery was widely worn, which resulted in seasonal, ever-changing styles of necklaces and other jewellery. Fine jewellery that was common in this period included wholly geometric or organically shaped silver necklaces, and precious gems set in platinum or gold necklaces inspired by the time of the French Empire . Love beads (a single strand of stone or glass beads) and pendant necklaces (most often made of leather cords or metal chains with metal pendants) became popular and were worn mostly by men. In Qing dynasty China ,
4085-705: The Berber cultures is a style of traditional jewellery worn by women and girls in the rural areas of the Maghreb region in North Africa inhabited by indigenous Berber people (in Berber language : Amazigh, Imazighen , pl). Following long social and cultural traditions, the silversmiths of different ethnic Berber groups of Morocco, Algeria and neighbouring countries created intricate jewellery to adorn their women and that formed part of their ethnic identity . Traditional Berber jewellery
4180-450: The French poet Rémy Belleau (1528–1577) invented a myth in which Bacchus , the god of intoxication, of wine, and grapes was pursuing a maiden named Amethyste , who refused his affections. Amethyste prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the chaste goddess Diana answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethyste's desire to remain chaste, Bacchus poured wine over
4275-453: The Gods. They worked two styles of pieces: cast pieces and pieces hammered out of sheet metal. Fewer pieces of cast jewellery have been recovered. It was made by casting the metal onto two stone or clay moulds. The two-halves were then joined, and wax , followed by molten metal, was placed in the centre. This technique had been practised since the late Bronze Age . The more common form of jewellery
4370-647: 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. However, by 27 BC, Greek designs were heavily influenced by the Roman culture. That is not to say that indigenous design did not thrive. 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. Gorgons, pomegranates, acorns, lotus flowers and palms were
4465-558: The Greeks had mastered making coloured jewellery and using amethysts , pearl , and emeralds . Also, the first signs of cameos appeared, with the Greeks creating them from Indian Sardonyx , a striped brown pink and cream agate stone. Greek jewellery was often simpler than in other cultures, with simple designs and workmanship. However, as time progressed, the designs grew in complexity and different materials were soon used. Jewellery in Greece
4560-517: The Kurgan settlement of Yunatsite near Pazardzhik , the golden treasure Sakar, as well as beads and gold jewellery found in the Kurgan settlement of Provadia – Solnitsata ("salt pit"). However, Varna gold is most often called the oldest since this treasure is the largest and most diverse. By approximately 5,000 years ago, jewellery-making had become a significant craft in the cities of Mesopotamia . The most significant archaeological evidence comes from
4655-562: The Museum of Ancient History in Lower Austria revealed that they had found a grave of a female jewellery worker – forcing archaeologists to take a fresh look at prehistoric gender roles after it appeared to be that of a female fine metal worker – a profession that was previously thought to have been carried out exclusively by men. The first signs of established jewellery making in Ancient Egypt
4750-599: The Mycenaean period, but unfortunately this skill was lost at the end of the Bronze Age. The forms and shapes of jewellery in ancient Greece such as the armring (13th century BC), brooch (10th century BC) and pins (7th century BC), have varied widely since the Bronze Age as well. Other forms of jewellery include wreaths, earrings, necklace and bracelets. A good example of the high quality that gold working techniques could achieve in Greece
4845-448: The U.S. featured a double-ring ceremony, up from 15% in the 1920s. Some religions have specific rules or traditions surrounding jewellery (or even prohibiting it) and many religions have edicts against excessive display. Islam, for instance, considers the wearing of gold by men as Haraam . The majority of Islamic jewellery was in the form of bridal dowries , and traditionally was not handed down from generation to generation; instead, on
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#17328488685264940-546: The United States. Amethyst is produced in abundance in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks . Many of the hollow agates of southwestern Brazil and Uruguay contain a crop of amethyst crystals in the interior. Artigas, Uruguay and neighboring Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul are large world producers, with lesser quantities mined in Minas Gerais and Bahia states. The largest amethyst geode found as of 2007
5035-810: The Western practice of married people wearing wedding rings). Wearing of amulets and devotional medals to provide protection or to ward off evil is common in some cultures. These may take the form of symbols (such as the ankh ), stones, plants, animals, body parts (such as the Khamsa ), or glyphs (such as stylised versions of the Throne Verse in Islamic art ). In creating jewellery, gemstones , coins , or other precious items are often used, and they are typically set into precious metals . Platinum alloys range from 900 (90% pure) to 950 (95% pure). The silver used in jewellery
5130-736: The belief that amethysts heal people and keep them cool-headed. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England. Anglican bishops wear an episcopal ring often set with an amethyst, an allusion to the description of the Apostles as "not drunk" at Pentecost in Acts 2:15. A large geode , or "amethyst-grotto", from near Santa Cruz in southern Brazil was presented at a 1902 exhibition in Düsseldorf , Germany. Synthetic (laboratory-grown) amethyst
5225-469: The body or the clothes. From a western perspective, the term is restricted to durable ornaments , excluding flowers for example. For many centuries metal such as gold often combined with gemstones , has been the normal material for jewellery, but other materials such as glass, shells and other plant materials may be used. Jewellery is one of the oldest types of archaeological artefact – with 100,000-year-old beads made from Nassarius shells thought to be
5320-458: The century, after the invention of new diamond cutting techniques, priority was for the first time given to the jewels themselves, not their settings; it was common for jewels to be pinned to black velvet ribbons. Miniatures also grew in popularity, and were often made into portrait pendants or lockets . 1700–1800: Portrait pendants were still worn, and in extravagantly jeweled settings. The newly wealthy bourgeoisie delighted in jewellery, and
5415-549: The century, natural adornments, such as coral and pearl, were joined with enamel and metals to create intricate pendants. Heavily jeweled, delicately framed cameo pendants were popular as well. Chokers , last worn commonly in antiquity , also made a resurgence at this time. 1600–1700: Few men in the Baroque period wore jewellery, and for women necklaces were unsophisticated, often a simple strand of pearls or delicately linked and embellished strands of metal with small stones. Later in
5510-413: The crystal terminations. One of gem cutters' tasks is to make a finished product with even color. Sometimes, only a thin layer of a natural, uncut amethyst is violet colored, or the color is very uneven. The uncut gem may have only a small portion that is suitable for faceting. The color of amethyst has been demonstrated to result from substitution by irradiation of trivalent iron (Fe ) for silicon in
5605-581: The cultural integration of foreign (non-Chinese) culture and the native Chinese culture due to the special characteristics of its geography. The yingluo eventually evolved from an ornament in Buddhist arts and eventually became an actual necklace by the Tang dynasty . The yingluo then became a classical form of necklace in Chinese society throughout centuries. It continues to be worn in present-day, especially as
5700-463: The end of the 15th century the wealthiest men would wear great, shoulder covering collars inlaid with gems. Women typically wore simpler pieces, such as gold chains, or strung beads or pearls. By the end of the period, larger, more heavily adorned pieces were common among the wealthy, particularly in Italy. 1500–1600 : Long pearl ropes and chains with precious stones were commonly worn. In the latter half of
5795-466: 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. Diamonds mined during the recent civil wars in Angola , Ivory Coast , Sierra Leone , and other nations have been labeled as blood diamonds when they are mined in
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#17328488685265890-557: The five fingers of the hand and is traditionally believed both by Muslims as well as Jewish people to protect against the evil eye . The oldest gold jewellery in the world is dating from 4,600 BC to 4,200 BC and was discovered in Europe, at the site of Varna Necropolis , near the Black Sea coast in Bulgaria . Several prehistoric Bulgarian finds are considered no less old – the golden treasures of Hotnitsa, Durankulak , artifacts from
5985-439: The form of jewellery or make jewellery as a means to store or display coins. Alternatively, jewellery has been used as a currency or trade good to buy and sell. an example being the use of slave beads . Many items of jewellery, such as brooches and buckles , originated as purely functional items, but evolved into decorative items as their functional requirement diminished. Similarly, Tiffany & Co . produced inkwells in
6080-452: The highest-grade sapphires or rubies are still orders of magnitude more expensive than amethyst. The most suitable setting for gem amethyst is a prong or a bezel setting. The channel method must be used with caution. Amethyst has a good hardness, and handling it with proper care will prevent any damage to the stone. Amethyst is sensitive to strong heat and may lose or change its colour when exposed to prolonged heat or light. Polishing
6175-597: The jewellery had significance. Green, for example, symbolised fertility. Lapis lazuli and silver had to be imported from beyond the country's borders. Egyptian designs were most common in Phoenician jewellery. Also, ancient Turkish designs found in Persian jewellery suggest that trade between the Middle East and Europe was not uncommon. Women wore elaborate gold and silver pieces that were used in ceremonies. Jewellery of
6270-465: The jewellery market has increased significantly due to several factors. Their typically lower price compared to natural diamonds makes them an appealing choice for many consumers. Additionally, the ethical implications of synthetic diamonds have garnered attention, particularly their potential to eliminate the risks associated with conflict diamonds , which are mined in war zones and often used to finance armed conflict. From an environmental perspective,
6365-519: The late 19th and early 20th centuries, skillfully combining materials like enamel and fine metals, reflecting the same craftsmanship seen in their jewellery collections. These inkwells were not only practical but also artistic in design. Jewellery can symbolise group membership (as in the case, of the Christian crucifix or the Jewish Star of David ) or status (as in the case of chains of office , or
6460-486: The lattice to lose an electron and form a [FeO 4 ] color center. Amethyst is a three-dimensional network of tetrahedra where the silicon atoms are in the center and are surrounded by four oxygen atoms located at the vertices of a tetrahedron . This structure is quite rigid and results in quartz's hardness and resistance to weathering. The hardness of the mineral is the same as quartz, thus making it suitable for use in jewelry. Amethyst occurs in primary hues from
6555-414: The many types of jewellery worn by the Roman elite. Gold and silver necklaces were often ornamented with foreign and semi-precious objects such as amber , pearl , amethyst , sapphire , and diamond . In addition, ropes of pearls, gold plates inset with enamel, and lustrous stones set in gold filigree were often worn. Many large necklaces and the materials that adorned the necklaces were imported from
6650-741: The neck. These are most often rendered in precious metals such as gold , silver , and platinum. Necklaces often have additional attachments suspended or inset into the necklace itself. These attachments typically include pendants, lockets, amulets, crosses, and precious and semiprecious materials such as diamond , pearls , rubies , emeralds , garnets , and sapphires . They are made with many different type of materials and are used for many things and sometimes classified as clothing. Prehistoric peoples often used natural materials such as feathers, bone, shells, and plant materials to create necklaces. Evidence of early Upper Paleolithic necklace making in southern Africa and east Africa dates back to 50,000 BP . By
6745-607: The new Christian iconography. 2000 BC – AD 400 : Bronze amulets embossed with coral were common. In Celtic and Gallic Europe, the most popular necklace was the heavy metal torc , made most often out of bronze, but sometimes out of silver, gold, or glass or amber beads. AD 400 – 1300 : Early European barbarian groups favored wide, intricate gold collars not unlike the torc. Germanic tribes often wore gold and silver pieces with complex detailing and inlaid with colored glass and semi-precious stones, especially garnet. Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian groups worked mainly in silver, due to
6840-417: The new imitation stones and imitation gold allowed them more access to the necklaces of the time. In the early part of the century, the dominant styles were a velvet ribbon with suspended pendants and the rivière necklace , a single row of large precious stones. By mid-century colorful, whimsical necklaces made of real and imitation gems were popular, and the end of the century saw a neo-Classical resurgence. In
6935-510: The oldest Mesolithic art in Britain, was found at the site of Star Carr in North Yorkshire in 2015. In southern Russia , carved bracelets made of mammoth tusk have been found. The Venus of Hohle Fels features a perforation at the top, showing that it was intended to be worn as a pendant . Around seven thousand years ago, the first sign of copper jewellery was seen. In October 2012,
7030-602: The oldest known jewellery. The basic forms of jewellery vary between cultures but are often extremely long-lived; in European cultures the most common forms of jewellery listed above have persisted since ancient times, while other forms such as adornments for the nose or ankle, important in other cultures, are much less common. Jewellery may be made from a wide range of materials. Gemstones and similar materials such as amber and coral , precious metals , beads , and shells have been widely used, and enamel has often been important. In most cultures jewellery can be understood as
7125-505: The production of synthetic diamonds generally has a smaller ecological footprint than traditional diamond mining , which can result in extensive land degradation and habitat destruction. While lab-grown diamonds do require energy for their production, many companies are actively adopting renewable energy sources to mitigate their environmental impact. As consumer preferences evolve, particularly among younger generations who prioritize sustainability, synthetic diamonds are increasingly seen as
7220-417: The slang term bling-bling , which refers to the ostentatious display of jewellery by men or women. Conversely, the jewellery industry in the early 20th century launched a campaign to popularise wedding rings for men, which caught on, as well as engagement rings for men, which did not, go so far as to create a false history and claim that the practice had medieval roots. By the mid-1940s, 85% of weddings in
7315-477: The smallest type of beads used are known as seed beads , these are the beads used for the "woven" style of beaded jewellery. Seed beads are also used in an embroidery technique where they are sewn onto fabric backings to create broad collar neck pieces and beaded bracelets. Bead embroidery, a popular type of handwork during the Victorian era , is enjoying a renaissance in modern jewellery making. Beading, or beadwork,
7410-414: The stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple. Variations of the story include that Dionysus had been insulted by a mortal and swore to slay the next mortal who crossed his path, creating fierce tigers to carry out his wrath. The mortal turned out to be a beautiful young woman, Amethystos, who was on her way to pay tribute to Artemis . Her life was spared by Artemis, who transformed the maiden into
7505-701: The structure, in the presence of trace elements of large ionic radius, and to a certain extent, the amethyst color can naturally result from displacement of transition elements even if the iron concentration is low. Natural amethyst is dichroic in reddish violet and bluish violet, but when heated, turns yellow-orange, yellow-brown, or dark brownish and may resemble citrine , but loses its dichroism, unlike genuine citrine. When partially heated, amethyst can result in ametrine . Amethyst can fade in tone if overexposed to light sources, and can be artificially darkened with adequate irradiation. It does not fluoresce under either short-wave or long-wave UV light . Amethyst
7600-580: The trade and manufacture of jewellery have also been unearthed throughout Mesopotamian archaeological sites. One record in the Mari royal archives, for example, gives the composition of various items of jewellery: The Greeks started using gold and gems in jewellery in 1600 BC, although beads shaped as shells and animals were produced widely in earlier times. Around 1500 BC, the main techniques of working gold in Greece included casting, twisting bars, and making wire. Many of these sophisticated techniques were popular in
7695-563: The use of large necklaces set with precious jewels. In Napoleon 's court that ancient Greek style was fashionable, and women wore strands of pearls or gold chains with cameos and jewels. In the Romantic period necklaces were extravagant: it was fashionable to wear a tight, gem-encrusted collar with matching jewel pendants attached and rosettes of gems with pearl borders. It was also common to wear jeweled brooches attached to neck ribbons. Some necklaces were made to be dismantled and reconfigured into
7790-407: The value of the gem is not primarily defined by carat weight. This is different from most gemstones, since the carat weight typically exponentially increases the value of the stone. The biggest factor in the value of amethyst is the color displayed. The highest-grade amethyst (called deep Russian ) is exceptionally rare. When one is found, its value is dependent on the demand of collectors; however,
7885-572: Was anglicised from the Old French " jouel ", and beyond that, to the Latin word " jocale ", meaning plaything. In British English , Indian English , New Zealand English , Hiberno-English , Australian English , and South African English it is spelled jewellery. At the same time, the spelling is jewelry in American English . Both are used in Canadian English . However, jewellery prevails by
7980-609: Was a ring-like neck ornament or fashionable necklace which was originally a Buddhist ornament depicted in Buddhist arts (e.g. sculptures and paintings) in China; the yingluo have roots in ancient India where its earlier prototype is the Indian ornament keyūra. The depictions of the keyūra was introduced in China along with Buddhism . The depictions of yingluo in China, such as those found in Dunhuang , evolved in shape and styles showing
8075-510: Was actually created not by modern humans ( Homo sapiens ) but by Neanderthal living in Europe. Specifically, perforated beads made from small seashells have been found dating to 115,000 years ago in the Cueva de los Aviones, a cave along the southeast coast of Spain. Later in Kenya, at Enkapune Ya Muto , beads made from perforated ostrich eggshells have been dated to more than 40,000 years ago. In Russia,
8170-465: Was also based on the rank of the citizens of that time. Cultural dictates have also played a significant role. For example, the wearing of earrings by Western men was considered effeminate in the 19th century and early 20th century. More recently, the display of body jewellery, such as piercings , has become a mark of acceptance or seen as a badge of courage within some groups but is completely rejected in others. Likewise, hip hop culture has popularised
8265-532: Was also common to wear long gold chains with suspended cameos and small containers of perfume. New elements were introduced in the Hellenistic period ; colored stones allowed for poly-chromatic pieces, and animal-head finials and spear-like or bud shaped pendants were hung from chains. Ancient Etruscans used granulation to create granulated gold beads which were strung with glass and faience beads to create colorful necklaces. In Ancient Rome necklaces were among
8360-451: Was also made into gold chains . Ancient Sumerians created necklaces and beads from gold, silver, lapis lazuli and carnelian. In Ancient Egypt , a number of different necklace types were worn. Upper-class Ancient Egyptians wore collars of organic or semi-precious and precious materials for religious, celebratory, and funerary purposes. These collars were often ornamented with semi-precious, glass, pottery, and hollow beads. Beads made from
8455-503: Was also practical as it could be used for mathematical calculations in the absence of an abacus. In China , there is a custom of wearing a necklace with a longevity lock pendant. These lock charms were sometimes personally tied around the necks of children by Buddhist or Taoist priests. The longevity lock is known as changmingsuo ( lit. 'longevity lock') and is an important form of amulet for children for thousand of years in Chinese culture. According to Chinese beliefs,
8550-484: Was around 3,000–5,000 years ago. The Egyptians preferred the luxury, rarity, and workability of gold over other metals. In Predynastic Egypt jewellery soon began to symbolise political and religious power in the community. Although it was worn by wealthy Egyptians in life, it was also worn by them in death, with jewellery commonly placed among grave goods . In conjunction with gold jewellery, Egyptians used coloured glass , along with semi-precious gems. The colour of
8645-441: Was hardly worn and was mostly used for public appearances or on special occasions. It was frequently given as a gift and was predominantly worn by women to show their wealth, social status, and beauty. The jewellery was often supposed to give the wearer protection from the " evil eye " or endowed the owner with supernatural powers , while others had a religious symbolism. Older pieces of jewellery that have been found were dedicated to
8740-457: Was set with large numbers of brightly coloured stones (chiefly agate, lapis, carnelian, and jasper). Favoured shapes included leaves, spirals, cones, and bunches of grapes. Jewellers created works both for human use and for adorning statues and idols. They employed a wide variety of sophisticated metalworking techniques, such as cloisonné , engraving , fine granulation , and filigree . Extensive and meticulously maintained records pertaining to
8835-584: Was the Empress of Uruguay , found in Artigas, Uruguay in 2007. It stands at a height of 3.27 meters, lies open along its length, and weighs 2.5 tons. Amethyst is also found and mined in South Korea . The large opencast amethyst vein at Maissau , Lower Austria , was historically important, but is no longer included among significant producers. Much fine amethyst comes from Russia , especially near Mursinka in
8930-491: Was the hammered sheet type. Sheets of metal would be hammered to thickness and then soldered together. The inside of the two sheets would be filled with wax or another liquid to preserve the metal work. Different techniques, such as using a stamp or engraving, were then used to create motifs on the jewellery. Jewels may then be added to hollows or glass poured into special cavities on the surface. The Greeks took much of their designs from outer origins, such as Asia, when Alexander
9025-461: Was usually made of silver and includes elaborate brooches made of triangular plates and pins ( fibula ), originally used as clasps for garments, but also necklaces, bracelets, earrings and similar items. Another major type is the so-called khmissa (local pronunciation of the Arabic word "khamsa" for the number "five"), which is called afus in the Berber language ( Tamazight) . This form represents
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