Gold jewelry fashions from ancient times to today
Gold jewelry is something which has been popular for ages. In fact, people have been using gold wedding jewelry, gold pins, gold cross jewelry and other gold pieces for more than 3000 years. Just how did people start wearing gold jewelry, though? Well, it was actually the Egyptians who started using gold jewelry in the form of earrings for their Pharaohs. And gold jewelry has been around in practically every culture since then. The ancient Greeks also loved gold jewelry.
Women wore gold jewelry pendant necklaces, gold jewelry rings, chokers, bracelets and wreaths. Ancient Greek men, on the other hand, preferred gold jewelry earrings. One of the most popular types of gold jewelry pendant designs in their culture was inspired by the goddesses Aphrodite, Eros and Artemis.
Gold jewelry has long been used in worship. Ancient Chinese people preferred gold pins for women's hair, particularly from 300-400 AD. Both men and women used gold jewelry earrings around that time to symbolize their wealth and status. Around 700 AD gold jewelry pendant necklaces became popular in China. Other Eastern nations such as Japan were not so hot on the gold trend, although Indian women began using gold jewelry rings in their noses somewhere between 900 and 1000 AD. Medieval Europe was a hotbed for gold jewelry in both men's and women's fashions.
People wore gold jewelry rings, gold jewelry pendant necklaces, brooches, belt buckles and hat badges. Gold wedding jewelry perhaps got its start in the medieval culture, when heart-shaped gold ring brooches became a symbol for lovers. Gold jewelry chokers also reappeared in medieval times in the 1500s, when they were being worn adorned with jewels to compliment the plunging necklines that were in vogue with women's fashions at the time.
The gold bracelet and personal case, or pomander, also became popular around this time. Gold cross jewelry and other religious-themed gold accessories became popular in old Europe. There were even gold jewelry prayer books that women wore from their skirts. Men of the Italian Renaissance didn't use much gold jewelry, but hat jewels were popular. Gold jewelry chains also returned, with both men and women decorating their necks In the classic revival period of the 19th century, though, traditional Roman cameos reemerged, which is gold pendant jewelry that frames the faces of loved ones.
In old France Louis XIV influenced gold jewelry fashion when a small gold locket was named after his mistress, Lavaliere. In the later 1800s, after excavations in Etruscan, Roman and Greek tombs and ruins revealed the gold jewelry of the ancient civilizations. As it happens, fashion would follow in history's footsteps with this retro-discovery and it became trendy to wear archaeologically correct styles of gold jewelry. Now, many different types of gold jewelry are still popular, gold cross jewelry will never go out of style for religious persons. Gold jewelry rings are also still popular, and gold wedding jewelry is a classic choice. Gold is a precious metal that will always have value, and jewelry fashioned from it will always be in style.
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