Jewelry is a popular fashion accessory found in every culture today. Its current forms and widespread popularity stem from a long history that we'll share with you!
Prehistory
Body ornaments first appeared 75,000 years ago. The first jewelry was found in South Africa and was made primarily of pierced shells, but also of animal teeth, bones, wood, ivory, and even deer antlers.
From antiquity...
The revolution in jewelry took place at the beginning of Antiquity with the appearance of metal, particularly gold, which allowed the development of goldsmithing techniques such as filigree and granulation.
These techniques were further refined with the proliferation of trading posts, encouraging the sharing and exchange of expertise. The first high-quality jewelry pieces were produced in the Mediterranean basin.
...Today
Before the First World War, jewelers selected stones based on the social class of the prospective buyer.
A turning point came during the Second World War, when gold was given to governments for the war effort and led to the use of less noble materials such as iron, aluminum or copper.
The industrial revolution democratized jewelry with mass production. Added to this was the acquisition of freedoms for women and a desire to participate in new trends. Costume jewelry, therefore, emerged with the combination of old and new materials and was now considered a true creation.
