Jewelry in ancient Egyptian style
They date back to ancient times. It also includes Greek and Byzantine styles. Egyptian is the most mystified. Most of the decorations contain divine images.
These are not only creatures with the bodies of people and the heads of dogs and birds, but also their earthly incarnations. The scarab, for example, is one of the forms of the god Ra. The beetle is also present in many modern Egyptian-style jewelry.
Symbolically, jewelry means a connection with the luminary, feeding it with energy. Therefore, the use of gold or alloys of yellow tones is typical for the Egyptian direction.
Silver was used less, but it was valued on a par with gold, since it was associated with Isis. This is the goddess of fertility, and at the same time the secrets of life. So, jewelry made of Egyptian style from silver appeals to the feminine, maternal, creative principles.
Since jewelry in Egypt was dedicated to deities, thus appealing to their favor, the jewelry was made massive and bright. Must be visible from heaven. By the way, the Egyptians considered each stone in jewelry to be a conductor to the energy of one of the stars.
The favorite gems of the ancient people were lapis lazuli, carnelian, rock crystal, and garnets. They are also used to decorate modern bracelets and necklaces in order to preserve the style of the Egyptian era.
Egyptian style decoration
A precious metal
The word "jeweler" comes from the German juwel, which means "jewel". Therefore, first of all, jewelry is jewelry that is made of precious metals: gold, silver, platinum or palladium.
Metals are considered precious for several reasons. They are resistant to chemical attack, are rare in nature, and are prohibitively expensive to obtain.
Jewelry is not made from pure precious metals. This is due to the softness of the natural material, its susceptibility to wear and its high price. Typically, jewelry companies use alloys whose composition is kept a closely guarded secret. Alloys differ in color, hardness, melting point, as well as the percentage of the most precious metal. The percentage determines the metal sample, which we will talk about in the next two articles.
Gothic style jewelry
Jewelry in the Gothic style is almost as massive as that of the ancient Egyptians. The philosophy of the era is based on the dream of God's city on earth. Hence the majestic structures with pointed elements.
The latter became a sign of striving for heaven. The inhabitants of the Middle Ages saw the City of God as something monumental and majestic. This was reflected in the architecture, and then in clothes and jewelry. There was no place for flying fabrics and barely visible earrings and rings.
Jewelers of the Middle Ages chose black onyx from stones. Shaded with white metals, it reminded of the frailty of existence. Rings in the shape of skulls were also associated with her. Rubies were reminiscent of the blood of God. Gothic jewelry, in general, abounds in hidden and overt symbols of faith, for example, crosses.
Types of jewelry
Costume jewelry is accessories that are made from base metals
Types of jewelry by material
Depending on the material used, there are several groups of decorations.
Elite
Created using gold or silver plating. In some cases, jewelry enamel is used. Elite options are considered an expensive pleasure. Each piece is made in a single copy. Gold-plated jewelry is in particular demand.
Jewelry
They are distinguished by impeccable quality. These can be pearl, amber or coral options. At the time of creation, an enamel coating is used. In terms of external characteristics, this variety is practically in no way inferior to its precious counterparts.
Souvenir
There is always some kind of surprise at the core. For example, a medallion on a chain.
Types of jewelry by purpose
According to the purpose of jewelry, the following types are distinguished:
- Everyday . These pieces are comfortable to wear every day.
- Office . Performed in a discreet style. Many consider these options classic. For example, carnations, a neat brooch or a thin chain with a pendant.
- Evening . These are bright and massive specimens that always catch the eye. They go perfectly with formal and sophisticated outfits.
- Wedding . Such options are impeccable. It is expressed in everything: quality, design, performance and style. This is not surprising, because all attention is focused on the bride.
Oriental style jewelry
The style is timeless, connected to the geography and culture of the region. Egyptian jewelry is also oriental. The other jewels in the group are just as large. Their massiveness can be expressed in compositions of dozens of small objects.
In India, for example, they wear thin bracelets this way. But, no matter what the jewelry of the East, they are always symmetrical. Harmony is the basis of the worldview of the inhabitants of the region. They do not like disorder and believe that only symmetry can be divine.
Oriental style jewelry
Tie clips and cufflinks
Cufflinks are a men's accessory that can only be used on shirts with double cuffs. The design of the product includes three parts: the top, the clasp, and the fastening elements.
And finally, the simplest, but no less elegant decoration is a tie clip . The product has a primitive design and consists only of a body and a clamp.
Japanese style jewelry
The Japanese focused on hair jewelry. They had not so much a religious as a social meaning. They called the similarity of hairpins, decorated with stones and flowers, kanzashi. Historically, their coloring, number and type of buds, without words, told what a woman’s origin was, what she did, whether she was married or not. Basic materials for kanzashi: wood and tortoise shell.
They are also used to make other Japanese-style jewelry. Residents of the country gravitate towards natural materials with warm energy. Cold metal is more often used for weapons than jewelry. Kanzashi style jewelry gives the warmth of natural materials.
Japanese women started wearing earrings, necklaces and bracelets only a few decades ago. Before this, kimonos and hairstyles were richly decorated. There was no need for other decor.
Having taken off their kimono and let their hair down, the women of the Land of the Rising Sun did not give up the abundance of silk in their jewelry. In Japanese jewelry, fabrics are equivalent to wood and bone.
Japanese style jewelry
Brooches and bracelets
Bracelets are practically no different from chains, except for the length. Most of them also have clasps, although there are models without them. The basis of the design is made up of links, which are also called gliders. Brooches are quite complex pieces of jewelry consisting of seven elements:
- Cast.
- Welt.
- Stone (insert).
- Base.
- Pin and lock.
Shibori style jewelry
The cult of silk is elevated to the forefront in shibori. This is a subclass of Japanese jewelry. However, historically, shibori was invented in India, from where the technique “came” to the islands. It turns out that the style is more oriental, there is a lot of ethnicity in it.
The essence of the products is a special fabric dyeing technique. Knots are tied on them, into which the pigment only partially penetrates. As a result, stains appear on the materials. In jewelry, such fabrics are combined with beads, stones, metal pendants, and leather.
Shibori fabrics are voluminous. Without folds on fabrics, their coloring looks worse. Shibori silk ribbons are specially crimped. There is no point in crushing such beauty. Therefore, shibori style jewelry is large in size, but light, like silk itself. The basis for compositions is usually felt and leather.
The photo shows a shibori style decoration
Ring
The ring is the most popular piece of jewelry and, it would seem, does not need a description. But it's not that simple. Rings are traditional and wedding, there are also rings and other options. We'll take a closer look at the traditional jewelry ring because it has the most detail.
Jewelry Ring Details:
- The shank is the basis of the entire product. This is a band that you put on your finger. The shank can be hollow or solid, made using different artistic techniques.
- Caste is a frame that holds a gemstone. The cast can be round, square, triangular, and also have other shapes and sizes.
- The welt is the lining that holds the insert in place underneath. It always exactly matches the shape and size of the cast. Sometimes the welt is called a digel.
- Insert - a stone installed in the cast. Jewelers make the frame to fit the size of the insert.
- The overlay is a decorative element of the ring. It connects the splint to the frame. The shape of the overlay is usually thought out by designers and artists.
A classic engagement ring consists only of a shank, which can be engraved. The ring has a special engraved area in place of the caste.
Ring size
The size is calculated by the diameter of the ring. In Russia, the metric system is used, so manufacturers indicate sizes in millimeters from 15 to 22. The USA and Great Britain have their own ring sizing systems. Study the size chart so you don't get lost when choosing a ring.
All manufacturers follow these standards. Jewelers make other sizes only to order.
Jewelry in ethno style
An even broader concept than the jewelry of the East. Ethnic jewelry includes products in national style. There may be Egyptian, Japanese, African, or Indian motifs.
Canons of beauty were created at the stage of formation of tribes. Back then they had no glass or plastic at their disposal. Ethnic style jewelry is purely natural, made from threads, feathers, shells, wood, metal and stones. Jewelers also work with leather, bones, fangs, and horsehair.
Ethnic jewelry is a material expression of the wisdom of the people and their beliefs. The Tibetans, for example, created dzi beads. These are elongated pebbles with holes in the center. Basically, they take chalcedony.
It is a type of quartz, and it is the most common mineral on earth. There is also plenty of quartz in Tibet. Images of eyes are schematically applied to dzi beads. One will give you confidence.
Two eyes promise happiness in love. Three eyes on a bead help achieve prosperity and wealth. Tibetans believe that dzi beads fell from heaven and carry their protection.
Decoration in ethno style
What your favorite jewelry says about you
Few people know that jewelry is not only a great way to highlight your individual style. In fact, jewelry can tell a lot about the character, habits, lifestyle and even values of its owner.
Large earrings
Women who prefer large earrings are usually confident and love to be the center of attention. They are decisive and serious, often have creative abilities and their own vision of style. Women of this type are not afraid of life's difficulties - they come out of any difficult situation with their heads held high.
Stud earrings
Such jewelry is chosen by easy-going and active people. They are full of vital energy and look at the world with optimism. It costs them nothing to get ready for a meeting in five minutes or change plans for the evening on the fly. Often these people are modest, but at the same time sociable and kind to others.
Small stud earrings can also indicate dependence on the opinions of others.
Bracelets
These jewelry are chosen by lively, dynamic and positive people who are used to achieving their goals and not stopping there.
A large number of bracelets on your hand indicates a desire to attract attention, a love of adventure and openness to everything new. Bracelets also demonstrate the ability to defend oneself and the ability to unite like-minded people around oneself.
Gold jewelry
People who choose gold are quite conservative in their views. They are balanced, love to be first in everything and know their worth, emotional and active.
Elegant classic gold jewelry emphasizes the severity of its owner, while products with bright precious stones indicate a desire to attract attention, and sometimes to emphasize wealth and status.
Silver jewelry
Silver jewelry is chosen mainly by discreet, creative people who are distinguished by romance, kindness and openness.
Among those who wear silver, there are many realists with a very rational approach to life.
It is also important to pay attention to the inserts: transparent stones symbolize a person’s positive attitude, while opaque stones indicate a tendency to look for shortcomings and causes of problems in oneself.
Cocktail rings
A lover of bright cocktail rings is most likely in search of her soulmate. She is charming and open.
It is important to note which finger the ring is on: a piece of jewelry with a large stone on the middle finger indicates that the girl who wears it has self-esteem.
A ring on the index finger most often symbolizes the desire to lead others, and wearing a ring on the little finger speaks of the originality of its owner. These people can be capricious and never miss an opportunity to show their importance.
Representatives of creative professions often wear jewelry on the little finger.
Originally designed rings with small stones speak of confidence and respect for yourself and the people around you.
Brooches
Original brooches are chosen by a true fashionista who is not afraid of experiments and wants to emphasize her unique style. She is sociable and bright, and strives to attract attention in any situation.
Products with diamonds
Diamond jewelry is usually worn by confident, independent and rational women. Undoubtedly, jewelry with the most valuable stone in the world shows the status and financial position of its owner.
Jewelry with pearls
The owner of jewelry with pearls is a romantic and dreamy person. She goes to the theater, to exhibitions, reads books, and appreciates honesty in people. Women who choose pearls are modest and charming, adhere to traditional values, love classics and elegance.
Wedding ring
A woman who always wears her wedding ring prefers consistency. She carefully preserves family values and maintains harmony with the outside world.
Pendants and necklaces
When considering this accessory, it is important not only to think about the originality or size of the jewelry, but also to pay attention to the precious metal from which it is made. Gold pendants are chosen by those who are determined and self-confident, while silver pendants are preferred by modest and reserved people with a rich inner world.
Pendants with transparent stones speak of the sensitivity and sentimentality of their owner. Pendants with red inserts demonstrate a person’s amorousness, with blue or blue stones - the desire for calm, and with green stones - self-confidence.
Abstract design pendants are chosen by people with an unconventional approach to familiar things; jewelry with hearts is preferred by romantic and amorous people. Pendants with Zodiac Signs are worn by those who tend to believe in supernatural forces and fate. Jewelry with religious symbols speaks about the value of the spiritual component for a person.
Pendants with names are preferred by people who like to stand out from the crowd and tell about themselves.
In general, open-minded and confident people choose necklaces and chokers.
Jewelry for clothes
If you wear jewelry that matches different elements of your wardrobe, this speaks of your artistic taste, organization and creative approach to completing any task.
Lack of decorations
If a person does not wear jewelry, it means that he has adequate self-esteem and a reluctance to attract attention to himself with the help of additional details. However, sometimes this can be a warning sign, for example, disappointment in people or life values.
Did you recognize yourself and your loved ones in our article?
Russian style jewelry
Jewelry in the Russian style is a particular example of ethnicity. It’s easier to call them Slavic. Modern craftsmen recreate neck hryvnias. These are metal necklaces. As a rule, stylized rays extend from the base.
Reminiscent of the teeth of a crown, but they symbolize the sun. The hryvnias themselves are a barrier to the soul leaving the body. Our ancestors believed that the metal rings around the neck were a kind of lock.
Almost all Slavic jewelry had a protective meaning. In addition to metals, beads and threads were used. The Slavic style, for example, corresponds to a bauble made of red floss. This is also a ring symbol.
Color is associated with the sun, that is, light, life. But, most importantly, red is visible from afar. Evil spirits will not want to fly to the “fire”. The circle of the bracelet covers a person and does not allow evil to come to him.
In the photo there are decorations in the Slavic style
Necklace
Chokers and necklaces take the same shape when worn around the neck, but their design is different.
The necklace consists of a chain studded with pendants. A necklace is a more complex piece of jewelry. Its basis is a chain or flexible hoop with castes for inlaying stones. Along the entire length of the base there are parts of different shapes that are intricately intertwined with each other.
Marine style jewelry
This style is alien to the Slavs. It is believed that the fashion of copying sailors' outfits originated in England. A portrait of the son of Louis 16 has been preserved. The child was painted by Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. This is a French portrait painter.
So, the heir of Louis is depicted in a suit similar to that of sailors. The people began to follow the rulers. Then, Coco Chanel introduced the nautical style to the masses. But marine-style jewelry does not end with strands of pearls, anchors and a combination of blue and white. Jewelers make shells, jellyfish, turtles, tridents and mermaids from metal and stones.
The fashion for jewelry in a nautical style arose during Art Nouveau times, that is, at the end of the 19th century. Like modern products, jewelry of the “sea” is characterized by streamlined shapes.
However, there can also be some causticism in the jewelry category. In this regard, the direction is eclectic, that is, it absorbs features of other art styles, for example, art deco. To grasp his motives, just look at the platinum star.
The metal is shaped into rough coral branches. Intertwined with oval diamonds and drop-shaped onyxes, they resemble a starfish. Pear-shaped crystals point upward with sharp edges. It seems that the decoration is prickly.
Marine style jewelry
Pendant and pendant
The components of the pendant and pendant are the same. However, jewelry differs in the way it is worn. One pendant is hung on a chain and worn only around the neck. Pendants can be combined to your taste, attached in several pieces - from 1 to 5 or more, and decorated with them, for example, bracelets and chains.
Both the pendant and the pendant are made of 5 components:
- A hanging eye is an element that holds the jewelry on a chain.
- The connecting eye is an intermediate element between the base and the hanging eye.
- The base is the surface on which castes and inserts are installed.
- Cast - as in other jewelry, a frame for inserts.
- Inserts are precious or semi-precious stones located throughout the base of the product.
Gatsby style jewelry
"The Great Gatsby" is a novel by Francis Fitzgerald. It was published in 1925. The same year is the starting point for the Art Deco style. It replaced Art Nouveau and belongs to the latest era of art. It was the era of jazz and brilliance.
During the break between the two world wars, people tried to forget themselves, to escape from the realities of the world, surrounding themselves with luxury. Hence the deliberate decorativeness of art deco and Gatsby-style jewelry.
They have a lot of geometric patterns, color contrasts and expensive materials, for example, platinum, ivory, and diamonds. Among the favorites are also pearls. Its threads become infinitely long, sometimes hanging down to the floor, sometimes wrapping around the neck and wrists many times.
The Jazz Age is also famous for hair jewelry. The ladies began to cut them off, emphasizing the beauty of their faces with hoops made of the same pearls and gold. The compositions were complemented with feathers, opals and diamonds. These are the very jewels, looking at which you remember images of Hollywood divas, their luxurious, sophisticated and sophisticated life.
Gatsby style jewelry
How to distinguish gold from jewelry
There are several ways to check a piece of jewelry. The first thing you should pay attention to is the presence of a sample . It is always indicated on jewelry. However, in some cases it is left on costume jewelry to present it as an authentic product. In order not to make a mistake with your purchase, you need to know all the samples of gold.
It is also worth weighing the product. Analogs are always lighter than jewelry. The fact is that expensive metals are not used for production.
So, costume jewelry and jewelry are products that have several differences. Therefore, before purchasing, you should carefully familiarize yourself with the features of the accessories.
You can learn more by watching the video:
Jewelry in Provence style
This style is opposed to art deco. Instead of the glitter of the big city, there is rustic comfort. Provence is a region of France where agricultural plots, vineyards, and lavender fields are concentrated.
Its purple spikelet inflorescences are the main motif in the style’s jewelry. Lavender buds are made from amethyst, charoite and other purple stones. The products emphasize the naturalness of village life, its freedom and unpretentiousness.
Instead of elaborate geometry - flowers and petals. Instead of contrasting colors, there is a play of halftones. Instead of ostentatiously luxurious materials - any kind. Even a wreath of wildflowers is a decoration in the Provence style.
The photo shows a decoration in Provence style
Bracelet
Wrist jewelry. They are divided into monolithic and wicker. In the first case, the bracelet is threaded through the wrist, in the second, it is fastened. Bracelets can be worn as an independent decoration, or they can be complemented with several, creating layers. In the photo - a bracelet from Cartier, a very interesting piece of jewelry: The history of a legendary item: the most coveted bracelet in the world - Juste un Clou Cartier
Boho style jewelry
The roots of the style go back to the Middle Ages, as it borrowed its name from the gypsy tribes that roamed France in the 15th and 16th centuries. Bohemiens translates to "wandering". People of art noticed the love of freedom of the gypsies, their brightness and disobedience to general canons. This attracted the creators and they began to imitate the tramps with their clothes and jewelry.
City residents mixed their style with their own. The result was something bright, original, multi-layered. So, decorations in boho style must be extravagant.
Boho style jewelry is worn en masse. There are several rings on each finger, dozens of bracelets on the hands, and fennel threads and diamond necklaces on the neck.
The combination of penny textures, materials, designs with bohemian chic is the basis of the direction. Femininity is also required. The volume of decorations and their weight are facilitated by floral motifs, flowing ribbons, and flowers. There is ethnicity, but there is no rudeness.
Boho style jewelry
Earrings
First, we need to understand the types of locks on earrings. The most popular are the following: English, French, Italian locks, stud clasp (for studs), staple, loop, pin lock and clasp for hoop earrings.
There are other design solutions on the market.
Earring details in the maximum configuration:
- Earring is a fixed or movable part of an earring. The earring in the French lock is inserted into the ear, and in the English lock it covers the earlobe from the back side to secure it.
- The pin is the part of the jewelry that you insert into your ear. Exception: earrings with a French lock.
- Inlay - Precious, semi-precious stone or other minerals that cover the base.
- Caste is the place where inserts are placed. Same as cast for the ring.
- The base is the surface on which castes and inserts are installed.
- The hanging part is a decorative element of the earring.
