The wearing of jewelry can have a number of different meanings, from religious to sexual. Jewelry has often represented a person's religious beliefs from the Christian cross to the Buddha. Kings and queens wear jewelry to show off their vast wealth and stature. Crowns and tiaras are often encrusted with gems and precious metals as a symbol of supremacy and high stature.


Some military leaders have taken symbols and made them into jewelry pieces. Most notably, Adolph Hitler took the swastika and made it into a symbol of the Nazi party. To wear a golden swastika meant you were loyal to the ideologies of the regime. Today, the swastika is worn by a number of organizations and individuals, usually those with unorthodox beliefs.

Jade, lapis lazuli, even diamonds and gold have different meanings to different cultures. The Chinese value jade as a symbol of good and noble qualities, such as courage and justice. Lapis lazuli was prized by the Egyptian goddess Mut and was worn as a charm to ward off evil, as was malachite in the middle ages.


Diamonds have long been the standard of wealth in the US and other places around the world. The diamond is the symbol for long-lasting love and is the traditional stone used in wedding rings.

Christians around the world wear a cross to symbolize the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the man who was God. Jesus was crucified on a cross for claiming to be God. He rose again three days later and appeared to many of his disciples. The cross represents hope and eternal life.

Jewelry is often given as a gift to women by men who would woo them. Most cultures revere precious stones and metals and adorn their women with vast amounts of necklaces, rings, earrings, even toe rings and nose rings. Jewelry is universally thought of as a symbol of wealth and prestige.