5 anecdotes about old jewelry

Ancient Egyptians believed that jewelry was protective talisman that could help the living communicate with the gods and the dead. Funerary jewelry was therefore considered extremely important and was often buried with the dead.

Renaissance jewelry was often designed with precious stones or pearls embedded in intricate gold or silver designs. However, pearls were often considered more valuable than gemstones, as their rarity made them more expensive at the time.

Art Nouveau jewelry often incorporated organic shapes inspired by nature, such as flowers, dragonflies and snakes. However, jewelers of the era also created strikingly abstract and geometric jewelry that anticipated the Art Deco style that would follow.

Ancient Egyptian jewelry was often made from non-precious materials such as glass, wood, and ceramics, in addition to precious metals. This made jewelry more accessible to more people and allowed jewelers to create elaborate designs without the need for expensive gemstones.

Victorian era jewelry was often highly symbolic, incorporating images of animals, hearts, flowers, and other meaningful designs. Jewelers of the time also created jewelry with hidden codes, such as "mourning rings" which carried different colored stones to represent different stages of the grieving process.