The adornment of jewelry is sacred and symbolic of beauty, grace, and the creation of a person into a brighter, more beaming version of oneself. And whether it be a birthday, graduation, engagement, wedding, or anniversary, there will always be that one timeless gift to express appreciation and gratitude toward someone you love. Nothing encompasses admiration quite like a handpicked treasure that sparkles and shines while uplifting your mood and adding vibrancy to any personality. Where milestones mark the growth and development of one's life, anniversaries are a reminder of a love you built and continue to build or serve to celebrate the hard work put into a venture. It is rare that someone doesn’t want something gold or glistening to enhance their look and most everyone feels excitement when handed a perfect little box wrapped in paper or embellished with a bow.
Since the beginning of time jewelry has been given and can promote confidence, style, affirm personal connections, and possess the power to heal. The earliest traces of jewelry have been found in the civilizations which bloomed in the Mediterranean and modern-day Iran around 3,000 to 400 BC. At that time jewelry consisted only of simple stone amulets and seals, treasures which carried spiritual meanings and were stitched with stars and floral designs. The first known piece of jewelry was not created by humans (Homo sapiens) but by Neanderthal living around Europe as they gave and traded small, perforated beads. These riches, made from seashells, tiny polished stones, and bones, have been found dating back 115,000 years ago in the Cueva de Los Aviones— a cave along the southeast coast of Spain. Others attest that the earliest traces of jewelry, however, have been found in Africa in the form of snail and ostrich eggshell pieces.
Jewelry is significant in that it enhances one’s beauty while symbolizing wealth, power, and status. For many, jewelry is an art form for the body and a means of self-expression— for others, chains, metals, jewels, and gems are a long-lasting part of one’s heritage, tradition, and culture. The power of this great gift can show how much you care while making the receiver feel beautiful and important, as well as desired. Even as a platonic gift amongst friends, jewels can awaken one’s identity and instill immense happiness— and why is that? trinkets and objects of value have the power to heal and connect while establishing a connection with ourselves, our essence, our spirit, and nature. While no material object can replace inner peace, real love, or bonds, there is something about seeing that sparkle in the sunshine that can awaken an inner god or goddess inside us all. From the old French word “jouel” and beyond that to the Latin term “jocale” or, plaything, we exude charisma when wearing an exquisite piece of jewelry. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and earrings are timeless little touches that encompass a universal form of adornment; they have been said to celebrate the body while transcending the aura into the untouchable essence of the universe. The power and gift of giving jewelry is one of time’s oldest and most precious traditions.
