For most, wearing jewelry is just simply something that we do - putting on earrings, rings, or necklaces has become habit. It has become part of our routines, and we rarely stop to ask why it is that we wear it. What is interesting, however, is to take a look into the history of jewelry. Humans have been wearing jewelry for nearly 75,000 years, and have done so for a variety of reasons, some of which are more obvious than others.
Prior to the modern day, jewelry was often worn as a symbol of status by pharaohs, kings, emperors, and tsars alike for centuries. Precious materials such as gemstones have always been coveted, and jewelry became a way of displaying wealth and importance. But jewelry did have more modest beginnings as some of the earliest jewelry found was crafted from leather, shells, feathers, and berries which would later develop into the precious stones and handcrafted metals that we wear today. These materials were scavenged and crafted into unique pieces worn by ancient peoples as far back as the neanderthals.
Prehistoric Necklaces 40000 B.C
Jewelry is all about the materials, and there is another theory that jewelry was popularized because of the supernatural and healing powers that ancient Pharaohs believed that some stones possessed. Amulets with magical gemstones were sacred and deeply respected, and held cultural and spiritual significance to the Ancient Egyptians. Even today, we wear pendants with crystals such as quartz not only because they are beautiful but because of the amazing qualities they may possess. It is comforting to some to wear jewelry made with stones and crystals that are said to help with everything from courage to love, and can often serve as a reminder to nurture these qualities in ourselves and certain areas of our lives.
The Sakura necklace, made with rose quartz, a crystal believed to attract love
While the history of jewelry is expansive and interesting, the reasons why we wear jewelry today may be more simple. Most of us wear jewelry because, well, we like how it looks. Wearing jewelry can be a way to express oneself, to complete an outfit, and to make a statement. Some people love the sounds of bangles as they move on the wrist, while others enjoy the hidden sparkle of a small gemstone earring. Either way, jewelry is one way to adorn your body and bring extra beauty to life.
Jewelry is also important because often times it has personal significance. Wedding rings passed down through families remind people of their heritage, while some collect pieces of jewelry to remind them of their travels or a specific event in their life. Often there is more than one reason why we wear a certain piece, but is usually because it makes us feel more like ourselves.
At Daya, we hope that you our jewelry allows you to enhance your personal style and add a little more beauty to your daily life. Our jewelry is timeless, high quality, and made with love too suit a variety of tastes, making any of our pieces a perfect gift for a loved one. In addition, 10% of all proceeds are donated to UNICEF in the hope that we can make the world better one small act of kindness at a time.
