Jewelry

A brief history of jewelry

Men and women have adorned themselves with jewelry since long before the age of reason! Garlands of flowers, bracelets of woven grass, shells, and stone; such were the first decorations to beautify the human body. We may have been wearing jewelry as far back as 75,000 years ago - 30,000 years earlier than previously believed - according to a recent report by National Geographic News.

Over the millennia, jewelry styles and materials have evolved in step with the advances of civilization. From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age, from the Iron Age to the Industrial Revolution (and seemingly back again!), styles have transformed, modernized, and then often returned to their most basic forms and essential elements. [more about jewelry]

Jewelry Resources

Selecting handcrafted jewelry   |   Handmade jewelry wearing and pairing tips   |   The caring and cleaning of handcrafted jewelry   |   Healing and spiritual beliefs: Gems, crystals, and magnetic jewelry   |   Precious metals   |   Beads & other materials   |   Precious and semiprecious gems   |   Novica's Handmade Jewelry Encyclopedia   |   Jewelry on Wikipedia

Artisan Jewelry Feature: The Inspiration and Challenges of a Handmade Jewelry Artisan

Fermin Vilcapoma discusses talent, passion, determination, and the business savvy that can help a handmade jewelry designer achieve international success.

Vilcapoma's interesting handcrafted jewelry designs feature top grade silver from Peru and are embellished with a range of beautiful gemstones. Many of his handmade jewelry designs feature a distinctly Andean perspective, and they are bold and classic at the same time.

Born in Lima, Peru, Master Jeweler Fermin Vilcapoma traces his beginnings as a silversmith to age eleven, when, after school, he first began helping his father at the family's workshop.

"I attended school in the morning, but I was always daydreaming, creating new designs," Vilcapoma recalls... [continued]