The earlier known jewelry dated back about 100,000 years and was a set of beads made from shells. Since then, people have continued to decorate their bodies with other materials, such as rocks and bones. These days, gemstones and metal are some of the more common materials. Here are five interesting things you didn’t know about jewelry.
Diamonds Haven’t Been Forever
Ahhh, sweet baby diamonds. The most precious gemstone people have used for ages, right?
Wrong.
Diamonds didn’t become popular until the late 1940s when De Beers, a British mining company based in South Africa, launched their “diamonds are forever” campaign.
South Africa became a gamechanger in the industry when they found a massive 21-carat diamond during the 18th century. Up until this point, people only thought diamonds were from India, where they found their first one 1,200 years before.
Carats vs. Karats
Do you know what the difference between a carat and a karat is?
A carat is a measurement of the weight of a gemstone. A carat is equal to 200 milligrams.
A karat describes how pure the gold is, with 24 karats being the most pristine. The lower the number, the more it contains other metals, creating an alloy. As pure gold is relatively soft for a metal, alloys help make them more durable. This is helpful for someone that wears jewelry, such as a wedding ring, all the time and doesn’t want it to gain wear and tear.
Alloys also produce distinct hues. For example, mixing gold and copper becomes “rose gold,” and combining gold with nickel or zinc creates “white gold.”
Engagement Rings: Displaying Love or Claiming Ownership?
Engagement rings have had quite a romantic arc over the centuries. The first ring given to another person as a symbol of an intent to marry was by Pope Nicholas in 850. Yet, someone didn’t gift the first diamond engagement ring until 1477.
Sorry to burst your idealistic soul; rings weren’t a sign of professing one’s love. Rather, they were gifts to someone as a symbol of ownership and part of a business contract.
Over time, people created engagement rings with ivory, flint, bone, copper, and iron. Currently, younger generations are shifting away from using diamonds. Preferences evolve quickly, with TikTok jewelry trends taking center stage.
Pearls as a Form of Aquatic Agriculture
One of the most interesting things you didn’t know about jewelry is that pearls are the only gemstone from a living animal.
Ages ago, people would hunt up and down the coasts for pearls. These days, almost all pearls on the market come from people that culture or farm mussels or oysters. Farmers raise these animals in very controlled conditions to produce pearls for people to use for all types of jewelry.
Sapphires vs. Rubies: Is There a Difference?
Did you know that sapphires come in all different colors? Whenever they are red, we call them rubies. “Red sapphire” and rubies have the same mineral structure and chemical composition. Any ruby that is light or pale in color is called a “pink sapphire” instead of “pink ruby.” Sapphires (and thus rubies) are the hardest gemstone behind diamonds.
Jewelry use has evolved with humans over time. How do you think it’ll look in the future?
FAQ
Where did jewelry come from?
The earlier known jewelry dated back about 100,000 years and was a set of beads made from shells. Since then, people have continued to decorate their bodies with other materials, such as rocks and bones.
What is the difference between a carat and a karat?
A carat is a measurement of the weight of a gemstone. A carat is equal to 200 milligrams. A karat describes how pure the gold is, with 24 karats being the most pristine. The lower the number, the more it contains other metals, creating an alloy.
Where do pearls come from?
Ages ago, people would hunt up and down the coasts for pearls. These days, almost all pearls on the market come from people that culture or farm mussels or oysters.
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