Have you ever wondered why women love to accessorize with jewelry? It may just be a habit to throw on your earrings every day, but what sparks this ritual? Crafting and wearing jewelry has been a tradition for thousands of years, a practice of cultures from every time period and corner of the world.
Historically, jewelry has been worn to symbolize wealth, status, family affiliations, and of course—romance. Some wear jewelry as a means of creative expression, communicating their originality and quirkiness with distinct and colorful embellishments. Others choose to wear jewelry for its symbolic meaning or individual significance. Occasionally, some people choose to not even wear their jewelry. They merely collect these valuables, wait for their worth to increase over time, and then sell it to reliable jewelry buyers like Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers & Jewelry Buyers.
Though jewelry is alluring for different reasons, there’s no denying its essential role in our everyday lives. We’re taking a closer look at what motivates women’s persistent captivation with jewelry and why these beautiful works of art have fascinated societies for centuries.
Jewelry Communicates Social Class
One of the principal reasons our ancestors decorated themselves in jewelry was to convey their social class to others. For centuries, wealthy families maintained control and influence through marriage, and wearing elaborate decorations was one way of securing a matrimony. Women heavily dressed in jewels were more inclined to impress potential suitors, attracting a more respectable spouse than someone with fewer adornments. Work jewelry is also important in how one is presented in the work place.
Furthermore, jewelry has served as an amulet to pledge the safety and protection of respected people such as nobility and religious figures. Ancient civilizations have long believed that colorful jewels and precious metals possess mysterious properties with the power to shield a wearer from peril, spark their emotions, and stimulate wealth.
Jewelry Allows for Self Expression
Much like the clothing we put on each day, jewelry can convey a lot about a woman’s style and interests. This is true of the jewelry we enjoy wearing ourselves, and that which we gift to our loved ones and friends. Someone with a varied sense of fashion may choose to wear striking, colorful jewelry that draws a lot of looks, or that acts as a conversation piece. Conversely, someone more modest may prefer timeless, traditional pieces that have outlasted ever-changing jewelry trends.
Even more so, the jewelry women wear echoes the mood they’re in. An outgoing, upbeat character can be expressed with vibrant, colored gemstone accessories. Alternately, feelings of gloom can clearly be communicated with dark onyx or black diamond jewelry.
Women often were jewelry to show association with a certain culture or society. Claddagh rings, for instance, are treasured by those of Irish heritage as a symbol of friendship, passion, and commitment. Turquoise is invaluable to Native American cultures and is worn as an embellishment for jewelry, apparel, and protective armor. Similarly, someone who is devoutly religious might express this by wearing jewelry that includes religious motifs.
Giving the gift of jewelry is also a type of self-expression, as we tend to pick gifts that best translate our emotions towards others. We express sentiments of love, attraction, understanding, etc. with the jewelry we give others. While many people are great at verbalizing their feelings, some show their fondness with a gesture. Jewelry provides a variety of colors and symbols that grant us plenty of choice when trying to express certain sentiments.
Jewelry Possesses Healing Properties
As we previously mentioned, many believe gemstones possess certain qualities and characteristics that make them meaningful to us. Every gemstone has its own unique significance, spiritual energy, raw beauty and allure. Rubies, for example, are said to ignite feelings of romance and adventure, while diamonds are said to reveal the cheer and light within one’s soul. Additionally, gemstones like amethyst and morganite are prized for their ability to help cure ailments of the mind and body.
Another incredibly popular trend is birthstone jewelry. No matter the time of year you were born, a dazzling colored gemstone corresponds to that month. Birthstone jewelry makes a wonderful gift and is one of the easier styles of jewelry to shop for. Some women even prefer to break from tradition, selecting an engagement ring with a colored gemstone center. More often, brides are searching for non-conventional rings with personalized details that are tailored to their unique tastes. A glittering green gemstone offers a beautiful touch of customization for the modern bride-to-be seeking to define her own style.
Women Love Jewelry—Period!
There are countless reasons women wear jewelry, but perhaps the best justification is simply this: they love it! Like any form of artwork, jewelry plays to our desires and unearths our deepest emotions. It can empower us to feel elegant, influential, proud, and wise while also helping to bring harmony and stability to our lives.