Just about everyone enjoys receiving a gift of gold jewelry. With the incredible selection of jewelry styles available, there's something unique for every personality. Gold jewelry has been around since antiquity. From civilizations like ancient Egypt to the Roman Empire, people have worn gold jewelry as adornments and status symbols. While most people appreciate the beauty of gold jewelry, relatively few are aware of its long and storied history.
The use of gold dates back to prehistoric man, who probably found it when collecting water in riverbeds. Because of its natural beauty, it was immediately regarded as something valuable.
It began to be used as ornamentation, and was associated with the sun god, which led to its use in early religious ceremonies. The Incas, for example, conquered the Chimu Empire and made the Chimu goldsmiths completely cover the Temple of the Sun's walls in gold.
All over the world people gold has been sought after beginning in prehistoric times. When it was discovered people would follow and search for more. An example of the feverish hunt for gold is the famous arrival of Columbus in 1492. The conquering of Mexico by Cortes and seizing the gold he discovered in 1519. His goal was the restoration of Spanish economic wealth. In the history of the United States gold has been a very important key to its growth. In the 1849 gold rush where prospectors numbering 40,000 traveled west in search of gold. The next discovered gold was in South Africa and Australia and the rich deposits found furthered the gold trade.
In order to make gold jewelry, gold is typically mixed with other metals to make it strong enough to withstand daily use. The more base metal used, like copper for example, the lower the carat of the gold. Lower carat gold jewelry is typically less expensive than its higher carat counterparts, making it accessible to a greater variety of people, and the metal is also stronger and less prone to breaking or bending.
The properties of gold jewelry can vary based on the metals used as a base. Some characteristics that may vary from one lot of gold to the next include hardness, melting point, and color. Copper is the most widely used base metal, giving the gold a reddish hue. In some types of jewelry, most notably antiques and Russian gold jewelry, the copper creates a beautiful rose-colored gold. Pendant white gold is created by adding nickel or palladium, or a combination of both, to yellow gold. Another innovative style of gold jewelry is created in the Japanese art of Mokume-game, in which goldsmiths use contrasting colors between laminated gold alloys to mimic the look of wood grain in gold jewelry.
While the demand for gold and the most sought after gold jewelry designs have certainly fluctuated through the years, jewelers have continued to create stunning and often very elaborate, ornamental jewelry designs. Gold jewelry be as simple as a gold band or bangle, or as intricate as gold collars with gemstones, other precious metals, and detailed engraved designs, resembling fine art more than jewelry. Modern gold jewelry is made to coordinate with current trends in clothing fashion, making it possible to choose jewelry that will provide the perfect accent for any outfit.
Gold has had a long and storied existence in human history. From the beginnings of its use by prehistoric man to the intricate, artistically complex pieces of modernity, gold jewelry has taken many forms. There is one thing that has not changed: gold jewelry makes a wonderful gift for someone special!
The use of gold dates back to prehistoric man, who probably found it when collecting water in riverbeds. Because of its natural beauty, it was immediately regarded as something valuable.
It began to be used as ornamentation, and was associated with the sun god, which led to its use in early religious ceremonies. The Incas, for example, conquered the Chimu Empire and made the Chimu goldsmiths completely cover the Temple of the Sun's walls in gold.
All over the world people gold has been sought after beginning in prehistoric times. When it was discovered people would follow and search for more. An example of the feverish hunt for gold is the famous arrival of Columbus in 1492. The conquering of Mexico by Cortes and seizing the gold he discovered in 1519. His goal was the restoration of Spanish economic wealth. In the history of the United States gold has been a very important key to its growth. In the 1849 gold rush where prospectors numbering 40,000 traveled west in search of gold. The next discovered gold was in South Africa and Australia and the rich deposits found furthered the gold trade.
In order to make gold jewelry, gold is typically mixed with other metals to make it strong enough to withstand daily use. The more base metal used, like copper for example, the lower the carat of the gold. Lower carat gold jewelry is typically less expensive than its higher carat counterparts, making it accessible to a greater variety of people, and the metal is also stronger and less prone to breaking or bending.
The properties of gold jewelry can vary based on the metals used as a base. Some characteristics that may vary from one lot of gold to the next include hardness, melting point, and color. Copper is the most widely used base metal, giving the gold a reddish hue. In some types of jewelry, most notably antiques and Russian gold jewelry, the copper creates a beautiful rose-colored gold. Pendant white gold is created by adding nickel or palladium, or a combination of both, to yellow gold. Another innovative style of gold jewelry is created in the Japanese art of Mokume-game, in which goldsmiths use contrasting colors between laminated gold alloys to mimic the look of wood grain in gold jewelry.
While the demand for gold and the most sought after gold jewelry designs have certainly fluctuated through the years, jewelers have continued to create stunning and often very elaborate, ornamental jewelry designs. Gold jewelry be as simple as a gold band or bangle, or as intricate as gold collars with gemstones, other precious metals, and detailed engraved designs, resembling fine art more than jewelry. Modern gold jewelry is made to coordinate with current trends in clothing fashion, making it possible to choose jewelry that will provide the perfect accent for any outfit.
Gold has had a long and storied existence in human history. From the beginnings of its use by prehistoric man to the intricate, artistically complex pieces of modernity, gold jewelry has taken many forms. There is one thing that has not changed: gold jewelry makes a wonderful gift for someone special!
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For more on Gold Diamond Pendants visit Mark and his lovely Bride Pat at All Pendants. They have the best selection of 14k White Gold Diamond Pendants as well as 18k and yellow gold pendants. Stop by now.
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