Throughout the history of time, cultures dating back to civilizations thousands of years old – even Biblical times – have utilized jewelry as an integral part of their society and culture. There are drawings dating back to BC times that depict Egyptians wearing jewelry, as well, even something as simple as a bracelet or necklace. All types of jewelry have been worn on all types of people across the globe, and across time, and jewelry’s popularity doesn’t show signs of waning any time soon.

Jewelry seems to have first appeared publicly around 75,000 years ago, in African cultures that used it as a power status, or a symbol of protection. Before that, even the Cro-Magnon civilization’s men and women used animal parts to string together bones for necklaces and other decorative accessories. Egyptians honored jewelry-making as a profession, and would utilize certain types of jewelry for protection, like amulets made of gold or clay. The type of material used strongly indicated social status and class.

Moving forward to the Middle Ages, only nobility were allowed to wear jewelry, as it showed the peons who was in charge of society with wealth and power. Gifts of jewelry with precious stones was often offered to the Church as piety, and no one in a position of power stepped out without some form of jewelry on to signify their rank. However, the following few centuries saw jewelry move from nobility to fashion, with the Renaissance period, as it became more acceptable for people to be seen in public with all forms of jewelry. Even peasants and people in the lower class were allowed to wear jewelry as an accessory, rather than a status symbol.

In the 19th century, popular jewelry styles started to become counterfeited, as more jewelry became available to the public that couldn’t afford the gold and silver that generally dominates classic jewelry. This is the time that fake materials began to be manufactured, so as to be affordable for everyone. This was also the time when wearing jewelry for status and protection was beginning to end for good.

Today, jewelry is popular in all forms – rings, necklaces, bracelets, and even body jewelry. It’s worn by people of all social class and status, and only the quality of material may deem to show wealth and position in life, but it’s not a natural indicator. Jewelry can be social, religious or a statement of art, but it’s definitely here to stay for centuries to come.