The History of Jewellery: A Sparkling Journey Through Time

May 30 2025, 7 min reading time

Timeless Adornment: A Visual Journey Through the History of Jewellery

Just like the history of Art with art movement.  Jewellery has always been more than decoration—it’s a mirror of culture, belief, and identity. Began over 100,000 years ago, from prehistoric talismans to modern artisan resin pieces, each era has shaped jewellery into a symbol of personal and societal meaning. This guide traces its evolution through time, highlighting iconic symbols and styles that defined each period.

🪨 Prehistoric Jewellery ✨ Origins in Antiquity

Prehistoric jewellery—dating back over 100,000 years—was humanity’s first language of adornment and meaning. Crafted from bone, shell, teeth, and amber, these early pieces were more than decoration: they were talismans of survival, status, and spirit. The spiral, one of the oldest known symbols, represented cycles of life, fertility, and cosmic rhythm. Found carved into beads and pendants, it echoed nature’s patterns—from snail shells to galaxies. One fascinating

🐞 Ancient Egyptian Jewellery

Ancient Egyptian jewellery was more than adornment—it was a sacred interface between the wearer and the divine. The scarab beetle, modeled after the dung beetle, symbolized the sun god Khepri, who renewed the sun each day. Scarabs were worn as amulets, rings, and pendants, often inscribed with protective spells from the Book of the Dead. Gold, considered the flesh of the gods, was the most prized material, while lapis lazuli and carnelian added celestial blue and fiery red to the palette—each stone chosen for its spiritual resonance. One captivating gimmick? Heart scarabs were placed on the chest of the deceased during mummification, replacing the removed heart and believed to guide the soul in the afterlife. Jewellery

🌿 Classical Greece & Rome - Civilizations

Classical Greece and Rome laid the foundation for Western aesthetics, philosophy, and political logic—and jewellery was no exception. The laurel wreath, worn by victors and philosophers alike, symbolized triumph, wisdom, and divine favor. In Greece, jewellery was often crafted from silver and bronze, but gold held special ceremonial weight, especially in funerary and temple contexts. Rome elevated gold to imperial status—used in fibulae (brooches), rings, and elaborate necklaces that signaled rank and allegiance.

Jewellery became wearable art. Laurel wreaths, animal motifs, and engraved rings reflected nature, mythology, and wealth.

✝️ Medieval Jewellery

Medieval jewellery was a tapestry of faith, scarcity, and coded identity. Spanning roughly the 5th to 15th centuries, it reflected a world where every gem and metal carried spiritual and social

Jewellery signified faith and hierarchy. Cross pendants and jeweled headpieces were reserved for royalty and clergy.

💌 Renaissance & Victorian Jewellery

Jewellery in the Renaissance and Victorian eras was a language of love, legacy, and layered meaning. During the Renaissance, goldsmiths elevated adornment into miniature masterpieces—featuring mythological scenes, allegorical figures, and heart motifs that symbolized devotion and divine connection. Pearls were prized for their purity, often paired with vibrant enamel to reflect humanist ideals and celestial beauty. One captivating flourish? Lovers exchanged portrait lockets inscribed with Latin mottos, turning jewellery into wearable poetry. In the Victorian era, sentimentality took center stage. Queen Victoria’s influence popularized heart-shaped lockets, serpent rings (symbolizing eternal love), and mourning jewellery crafted from jet, onyx, and even woven hair. These pieces weren’t just decorative—they held memory, grief, and hope. Enamel work flourished, often used to encode secret messages or initials. One poignant gimmick? Hidden compartments in brooches and rings carried miniature portraits or relics, worn close to the heart as tactile keepsakes. Together, these eras offer a rich palette of emotional symbolism and material storytelling—perfect for capsule collections, care cards, or jewellery designed to honour presence, remembrance, and romantic clarity.

Designs grew intricate and symbolic. Lockets held secrets, and mourning jewellery honored lost loved ones with sentiment and style.

🔷 Modern Movements

Modern jewellery movements—from Bauhaus to Brutalism, Art Deco to contemporary studio jewellery—redefined adornment as wearable art. Emerging in the 1920s, designers rejected excess

Art Deco brought geometric glamour, while Bohemian and minimalist styles celebrated freedom and individuality.

🎨 Contemporary Jewellery

Contemporary jewellery isn’t just worn—it’s *experienced*. Emerging in the late 20th century and evolving rapidly today, it breaks from tradition to explore identity, politics, sustainability, and emotion. The broken circle has become a powerful motif, representing openness, disruption, and the refusal to be confined by legacy forms. Materials are no longer precious by default—artists use recycled metals

Today’s jewellery blends tradition with innovation. Resin charms and mixed media celebrate personal stories and artisan craft.

✨ Final Sparkle

The star has long symbolized aspiration, guidance, and cosmic connection—but in contemporary jewellery, it’s also a nod to personal radiance and emotional clarity. Whether etched into minimalist pendants or scattered across modular ear cuffs, the star motif invites wearers to claim their presence. Premium Copper adds warmth and grounding, while gold-plated accents offer a luminous contrast—perfect for pieces designed to evoke both resilience and brilliance. One captivating gimmick? Some designers

From ancient talismans to modern studios, jewellery remains a timeless form of personal expression. At JewelHub, every piece tells a story—crafted for presence, gifted with intention.

Tags

Jewellery History Jewellery Materials 101 Jewellery Trends

• Share on:
• WhatsApp
• Deel
• X
• Pin it
• Messenger
• Email