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Jewelry

Jewelry is any type of physical adornment that is worn on the body. Over time, men and women have worn decorative ornaments for many reasons. The first was probably just as decoration, possibly to look unique or attract a mate. In some Native American cultures scalps of the warriors that were slain were proudly worn by the warrior who defeated them, coupled with teeth and feathers they showed everyone who could see what a powerful person they were. The earliest bodily adornments were made from bones, teeth, shells and other natural items.

Jewelry is usually made from precious metals and rare gems and stones, but there is still a huge market for cheaper costume jewelry that mimics the real thing, and other artistic jewelry where the design and craft is valued over the materials used. Gold and silver are the most popular metals that are used, but platinum, white gold, palladium and titanium are also used. The most popular gemstone is of course the diamond, but rubies, sapphires and emeralds are considered to be the other three main precious gemstones. Some other popular gemstones are amber, jade, turquoise and quartz.

Jewelry in the past often had a useful function as well as being visually pleasing. The brooch has been a popular piece for thousands of years, up until about a hundred years ago, and was used to secure a cloak. Slowly jewelry has lost its functional purposes but the brooch still remains as a beautiful adornment worn by many women. Sometimes they are worn to show support for a cause, such as breast cancer or AIDS. Earrings, necklaces and rings are made in many different styles and from different materials and are often used to accentuate a piece of clothing or show a particular style

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