The History Of Ornamental Jewelry

By: Amidon Jewelers

There are dozens of occasions that we mark with gifts of fine jewelry, although sometimes we don’t think of these things as being connected with the idea of rituals. Some of them make a lot of sense – engagement rings commemorating the commitment to get married, and wedding bands to symbolize the cementing of that bond. Others might be a little less common – taking a teenager to get their ears pierced when they turn thirteen, for example, which was a tradition in my own family. Sometimes, these fine jewelry pieces are specific – pendants to mark the passing of loved ones are a common one. Other times, it’s more about having the piece itself. Consider the upscale ornamental crown pieces used in British coronation rituals. There have been dozens of crowns historically, some only used once or twice. What was important was that there was a crown, not so much whose crown it was. Begin your own story at Amidon Jewelers Begin your own story at Amidon Jewelers   Many cultures have very specific rules regarding jewelry and coming of age rituals and have employed these traditions for decades. In the San Carlos Apache Native American culture, there is a religious coming of age ceremony that draws on ancient mythology and involves the wearing of a ritual crown and other ceremonial jewelry that are worn only for the occasion itself. The tradition of jewelry and ritual is not limited to any one type of transitional celebration, and certainly is not just for the living. Consider the way that Egyptians would decorate their dead, creating entire elaborate fine jewelry pieces and ornate masks to mark the occasion, for just one example of how jewelry has been used throughout history to honor the living and the dead. Many of us unconsciously mark exciting events in our lives with gifts. Mother’s Day is an occasion to buy fine jewelry and flowers, and that tends to hold true for birthdays as well, especially big markers like 30, 40, etc. There is certainly no doubt that fine jewelry has always occupied a very magical and special place in human history, and continues to thrive in that space between ritual tradition and spontaneity even in the modern age. The history is as rich as it is long, with incredible diverse variations as well as striking similarities in cultures all across the world. It seems that human beings have always recognized the power of ornamental fine jewelry pieces, and that is something that has not changed.