Prehistory
Ancient Beginnings: When Jewelry Meant More Than Beauty
Long before jewelry became a fashion accessory, it served important cultural and symbolic purposes.
Some of the earliest jewelry was made from materials readily available in nature—shells, bones, teeth, stones, beads, and other organic materials. As civilizations developed metalworking and stone-cutting techniques, jewelry became increasingly elaborate.
c. 3100–30 BCE
Ancient Egypt: Beauty, Status & Protection
Ancient Egyptian jewelry is among the most recognizable in history.
Gold was highly valued, while colorful materials such as turquoise, lapis lazuli, carnelian, faience, and other stones were used to create striking combinations.
Jewelry was worn by both men and women and could represent adornment, social status, and spiritual protection.
Symbols mattered. Scarabs, lotus flowers, animals, gods, and other motifs could carry meanings that went far beyond decoration.
In other words, jewelry was already doing something we still see today: it was telling a story about the person wearing it.
Did You Know?
Ancient Egyptian jewelry could serve as adornment, a symbol of status, and a form of protection—all at once.
c. 800 BCE–476 CE
Greece & Rome: Jewelry Becomes Art
As Greek civilization expanded, Greek jewelry design became increasingly sophisticated.
Hellenistic artisans created earrings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, armbands, rings, wreaths, and elaborate hair ornaments. Designs incorporated gemstones, pearls, enamel, intricate goldwork, and natural motifs such as leaves and animals.
Jewelry could also be deeply personal. Engraved gemstones were used as personal ornaments, seals, and identifying marks, while jewelry could be passed through families or dedicated as offerings.
Roman jewelry took its own direction, favoring onyx signet rings, cameos, and gold as public markers of citizenship, rank, and family lineage—jewelry as a quiet form of documentation, worn on the body.
The lesson is still relevant today: great jewelry combines craftsmanship with personality.
c. 500–1400
Medieval Jewelry: Symbolism Takes Center Stage
During the Middle Ages, jewelry often carried strong religious and symbolic meaning.
Crosses, devotional pieces, gemstones, rings, brooches, and elaborate metalwork became important forms of personal adornment.
Jewelry was also closely connected with wealth and social position. Precious materials were not simply beautiful—they communicated who someone was and, often, where they stood within society.
The idea of jewelry as a symbol of identity continued to grow.
c. 1400–1600
The Renaissance: Jewelry Becomes More Elaborate
The Renaissance brought renewed interest in art, craftsmanship, classical imagery, and detailed ornamentation, and Renaissance jewelry reflected all of it.
Jewelry became increasingly intricate, with gemstones, carved cameos, pearl and mother of pearl, goldwork, and symbolic motifs appearing in elaborate designs. Engraved gemstones could serve as personal identifiers, seals, ornaments, and treasured objects.
Portraiture from the period shows just how central jewelry had become to how people presented themselves—not an afterthought, but part of the composition.
This period helped establish an idea that still influences jewelry design today: a beautiful piece can also be a work of art.
c. 1760–1840
The Industrial Revolution: Jewelry for More People
For centuries, elaborate jewelry was largely associated with wealth and social status. Then technology changed everything.
Industrialization introduced new manufacturing techniques and helped make jewelry more widely available. Instead of jewelry being exclusively commissioned by wealthy individuals or produced by highly specialized artisans, new methods allowed more people to participate in changing fashion trends.
This helped transform jewelry from something primarily associated with wealth and ceremony into something increasingly connected with personal style.
c. 1890–1935
Art Nouveau & Art Deco: Two Very Different Visions
The late 19th and early 20th centuries brought some of the most recognizable jewelry movements in history.
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau jewelry embraced flowing lines, flowers, insects, leaves, animals, and other elements from nature—a spirit you can still see in opal’s shifting, organic color. The style felt romantic and expressive.
Art Deco
Art Deco jewelry moved in almost the opposite direction. Geometric shapes, symmetry, bold lines, and architectural forms became defining characteristics—the same bold confidence we chase in our banded agate pieces.
Different eras. Different aesthetics. But the same desire: to create jewelry that stands out.
