Valentine Jewelry
Jewelry is a personal body ornament such as a necklace, a ring, a bracelet or a hair clip made out of gemstones, precious metals as well as many other substances. Jewelry has been in the past and is currently made for many reasons: for exhibiting of wealth; for functionality such as clasps, pins and buckles; for symbolism as is used to show memberships or status (i.e., the cross, the Star of David; a wedding or engagement ring); for protection in the form of amulets and magic wards; and for artistic display.
Some beaded jewelry made of seashells was excavated in recent years dates back 100,000 years and is considered to be the oldest jewelry ever known. In ancient times jewelry was fashioned exclusively out of natural materials like bones, animal teeth, ivory, antlers, horns, seashells, wood, grasses, seeds, and stones and its purposes were predominantly functional (i.e., for storage of wealth, for attaching garments together, for marking of class distinctions and communal status). Eventually and in more recent years, jewelry lost its practical uses and remains entirely decorative. In addition, jewelry has diversified and is now made out of almost every material known to mankind and for every body part from hairpins at the top of the head, to bellybutton rings at the midsection and toe rings at the bottom. High quality jewelry is made of gemstones and precious metals but there has been a growing market for art jewelry for its artistic and creative design rather than its material value. There is also a rapidly growing demand for costume jewelry that is made of inexpensive materials and is mass produced.
Diamonds which were first mined in India have been considered the most precious of all gemstones for at least six centuries and they were first used in rings when Maximilian I was engaged to be married to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
This, naturally, leads me to the subject of Valentine jewelry. Jewelry is a wonderful way to say “I love you from the bottom of my heart” on any day of the year but most particularly on Saint Valentine’s Day. And with such a tremendous variety in materials, styles, sizes and markets, there is enough Valentine jewelry to choose from to please anyone’s taste and fit into everyone’s budge.
Just to give you some idea of what you might encounter when looking for Valentine jewelry for your loved one:
- Materials. Depending on your budget, you will find jewelry made of yellow and white gold, platinum, sterling silver, gold plated or gold filled, bronze, copper, stainless steal, brass, glass, porcelain, crystal, enamel, wood, shell, ivory, bone, clay, polymer clay, and plastics.
- Gemstones. Diamond, amethyst, cubic zirconium, ruby, garnet, sapphire, topaz, emerald, pearl, opal, lapis, jade, turquoise, etc.
- Items. Necklaces, chokers, pendants, bracelets, bangles, earrings, belts and buckles, rings, broaches, hat or lapel pins, emulates, clips, beads, tiaras, lockets, charms and others.
- Designs. Hearts, hearts pierced by arrows, cupids, lovebirds, roses and angels.
Remember to have fun while shopping for that perfect piece of Valentine jewelry. Therefore do not leave it for the last moment. If you have been listening, as I hope you have, to your loved one’s likes and dislikes and overall preferences in jewelry, you will know whether to look for the simple and elegant or the bold and flashy, for gold or for silver, for a necklace or for beads, and so on.
Posted in Gift Ideas
content rss