110.000 - 73.000 BC - Decorative sea shell beads found in
the archeological digs in Morocco. They were probably used as amulets. Drilled
shells have also been found in Israel, Algeria and South Africa.
38.000 BC - Beads made from bone and animal teeth found in
France.
28.000 BC - Fossilized shells and ivory beads found in the
East Gravettian culture, located in modern Czech Republic.
4400 BC - Around the time of first domesticated animals and
invention of wheel, ancient Thracian civilization produced oldest known objects
made from gold.
5000- 30 BC - Use of copper starts a new era in jewelry
production, and secrets of alluvial gold gathering arrives in Egypt around 4000
BC. They quickly start producing glazed steatite beads and
countless jewelry
designs based on scarab beetles, scrolls, winged birds, tigers, jackals and antelopes.
Popular gemstones of that time were carnelian, feldspar, amethyst, chalcedony,
lapis lazuli and turquoise.
2750 - 1200 BC - Ancient Mesopotamia produced wide range of
jewelry based on the design of lives, grapes, cones and spirals. Gemstones that
they used were agate, lapis, jasper and carnelian.
1400 - 30BC - Greek jewelry was made in the style of animals
and shells and was infused with the amethysts, pearls, chalcedony, cornelian,
garnet and emeralds.
500 BC - 400 AD - Ancient Roma preferred seal rings,
brooches, amulets and talismans that were infused with the designs of animals
and coiling snakes. Most popular gemstones were sapphires, emeralds, pearls,
amber, garnets, jet and diamonds.
400 - 1000 AD - In European Dark Ages use of jewelry was not
common, except among higher nobility and royalty.
1066 - 1485 - Medieval jewelry finally become widespread by
the help of religion. The most famous designs of that time were hair and cloth
jewelry that was worn during religious ceremonies. They were adorned with
gemstones such as rubies, sapphires, pearls, emeralds, semi-precious stones and
diamonds.
1500 -1830 - Arrival of Renaissance and Georgian time period
brought rise of jewelry use in entire Europe. Necklaces (single or multi
strand), earrings (ordinary or with chandeliers), and many other designs were
decorated with the images of animals. Intricately designed gemstones became
very popular to the point that diamond jewelry became commonly used as a part
of evening attire.
1835 - 1900 - Reign of English Queen Victoria had a profound
effect of fashion and jewelry tastes in Europe.
Early 1900s - These years were remembered for the Art Noveau
and Edwardian styles.
1920 - 1935 - Roaring Twenties brought the rise of the Art
Deco, which introduced jewelry of vibrant colors, filled with geometrical
shapes, abstract designs, cubism, modernism and oriental art. It also
popularized wearing of wristwatches.
1939 - 1949 - Because of influence of World War II and
widespread embargoes on gemstones, popular jewelry shifted to the more metal
based designs adorned with patriotic motifs and semi-precious and synthetic
gemstones.
1950s - Post war years saw the return of brightly colored
jewelry, heavy use of rhinestones and big beads. Diamonds solidified its spot
as the most popular gemstone.