2013/07/16

The Roots and Origins of Different Jewellery Designs and Trends

The jewellery of today is a result of various inspirations from the designs and cultures of the past. The history of jewellery is wide. There are a lot of proofs about how it started and where. There are artifacts and scriptures that were seen about how jewellery influenced the people of the past. It is believed that the first jewellery was made from natural elements such as twigs, leaves, stones, shells, bones or horns. This started around 75,000 years ago in Africa. They were actually worn by people for two distinct reasons: for adornment and for safety. Jewellery before were considered to have special powers. They were believed to bring luck or protection to the wearer.

Like its history, the use and function of jewellery is also broad. The function of jewellery evolved through the years. There were different functions and uses of jewellery from the different eras and periods. Aside from being forms of protection and power, it was also used as a decorative piece. People used jewellery to add emphasis on their clothes or selves. They were used by kings, queens, royals or upper class people to note their position or rank in the society. This is also used by religious groups to symbolise marriage. Today, jewellery is used by people as a form of expression of their feelings. Jewellery has become a powerful item in the world today. It is actually a basis of the wealth and fame of a person.

There are different eras and periods on how jewellery reached its status and state today. The designs of jewellery were also based on the different time periods. Egypt is said to be the first country that produced authentic jewellery. The Egyptians were the ones who initially took jewellery making and crafting seriously. They used different elements such as gold, copper and bronze. The Egyptians also believed that jewellery were packed with powers same as the early beliefs on jewellery. The Greeks and Romans had a more cultural belief than that of the Egyptians. They made jewellery to symbolise the different Gods and their legends. The jewellery that they made were more complex. It had intricate details and were more delicate.

Through the years, jewellery has become more involved with society and religious issues. During the Middle Ages, jewellery was made to symbolise the faith of the people to Christianity. Monasteries developed and designed jewellery to aid them financially. This era also set standards to ensure that jewellery were made of high quality. The Renaissance period also continued to incorporate jewellery in expressing different religious beliefs. Jewellery was also used to gain and maintain wealth. People during this period had an exquisite collection of modern engagement rings, earrings and necklaces. This is the period that paid great attention to gems and rhinestones. Color, luster and shine were amongst the characteristics that people looked after when acquiring or purchasing jewellery.


Jewellery of today is basically a combination of the designs of the different periods. The trends and designs of today include different kinds of vintage jewellery. The various designs from Kalmar Antiques offer different types of jewellery. Antique jewellery is definitely a collectible piece or item. It is very versatile and is wearable in different occasions and events. Visit us at Kalmar Antiques QVB where you can find the finest antique and original engagement rings Sydney has to offer.

The Eras and Periods of Jewellery

The history of jewellery is quite interesting. As people look back on its roots, they would find it amusing that jewellery has gone a long way. Jewellery was believed to have started in Africa, when people used different kinds of materials to make trinkets that served as protection when they wear it. These materials include horns and teeth of animals, shells, stones, twigs and all other materials that can be found in the wild. These people believed that wearing jewellery added certain levels of power to the person. Different cultures had a variety of beliefs with regards to wearing jewellery and were eventually spread to different land areas or countries.

Jewellery did not just act as a simple ornament. It also had different functions and purposes. During the early days of jewellery, it was prominently made to be used as amulets and talismans to drive away evil spirits. It eventually evolved from being an amulet to becoming a healing tool. The people before believed that wearing different kinds of jewellery, such as rings or necklaces, would help them set their mood or heal them from various sicknesses. The use of jewellery continued to be diverse through time. Today, it is considered to be very influential to society especially in determining rank, wealth, and power. It is also used by people to express certain feelings and emotions such as feelings of love, remorse and others.

The journey and innovation of jewellery is pretty unique. Each era had its own share of thoughts and contribution on how people perceive or look at jewellery today. The Egyptians were actually the ones who first established jewellery making as a profession. They honed their skills and developed techniques to create different designs and styles of jewellery. Since they are the earliest developers of jewellery, they also carried the belief that jewellery should be worn for protection. They also considered that jewellery contained powers. The Romans and Greeks had a different take on this. They didn’t believe that jewellery had powers but rather they used them as cultural symbols. They created jewellery to symbolize legends and Gods.

The Romans and Greeks continued to develop jewellery craftsmanship until the Middle Ages. This era particularly used jewellery to showcase the Christian culture. Different monasteries produced different kinds of jewellery that were used for trade. This profited the monasteries financially. There were a lot of guilds for jewellery that were established during the Middle Ages. They aided jewellers in their craft by imposing different standards to improve the quality in jewellery making. The use and belief of people about jewellery also changed over the years. During the Renaissance period, jewellery was believed to be symbols of wealth and power. People who wore jewellery like a special pair of antique earrings or a classic diamond ring were believed to belong to the higher echelons of society. This belief was carried over until the present day.


The trends in jewellery continue to grow over the years. Antique jewellery is one of the favorite pieces chosen by people today because of its uniqueness. Acquiring antique jewellery involves different responsibilities especially in preserving them. These types of jewellery have garnered its own value and are treasured widely today. There are varied designs from Kalmar Antiques on rings, genuine art deco rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewellery pieces of the past. We are Kalmar Antiques Pty Ltd - the foremost dealer of Antique and Fine Modern Jewellery in Australia.