Just Ask Leslie: Jewelry Tips

Most of us wear jewelry, but how many of us realize that when we put on our earrings or favorite necklace in the morning that we are following a tradition almost as old as humanity?

Jewelry of some kind is worn in every culture across the world, and the oldest jewelry so far discovered by archeologists is 25,000 years old, made of found objects such as shells and bones.

Got gold fever? You’re not the first — Egyptian hieroglyphs from 2600 BCE boast of Egypt’s abundant gold, and ancient Egyptians wore all sorts of gold charms in designs like the ankh and scarab, still seen in jewelry today. Pure gold is so malleable that a single ounce can be beaten into a 300 square feet sheet. Because of its malleability, gold is mixed with other metals for use in jewelry — yellow 18 karat gold is 75% gold, 12.5% silver and 12.5% copper.

Dazzled by diamonds? The word diamond comes from a Greek word meaning “untameable,” because diamonds are so hard that only another diamond can scratch them. The first known reference to diamonds comes from India in 296 BCE, where diamonds were used as symbols of wealth and prestige. The first diamond wedding rings arose in France in the 15th century, despite an earlier declaration by King Louis IX that only the king could own diamonds. And believe it or not, despite their price tag, diamonds are not at all rare — over 100 carats worth of diamonds are mined every year for both jewelry and industrial use.

Gemstones are split into grades and types by the official Gemological Institute of America depending on the quality of the stone and the number of inclusions (imperfections) contained within.

So while fashions and tastes may change, it doesn’t look like jewelry will be going anywhere soon.