Gold Jewelry through the Ages

Gold is the most precious wearable metal in the world, second only to Platinum. Its unique dazzle and malleability make it one of the most prized metals for creating intricately patterned jewelry. In India, which is one of the biggest gold consumers in the world, a marriage and other auspicious events are considered incomplete without gold. The bride is adorned with the finest gold jewelry, and mostly it is a gift from the bride’s parents. Gold is a great investment which increases in value year after year, so it is a wise gift from the parents when their daughter embarks on a new life.

Indian gold jewelry is coveted all over the world for its elegant and beautiful designs. Fine craftsmanship and quality of the gold increase the value of the jewelry manifold. The best jewelers carry fine and intricate designs which speak for themselves. A wide range of jewelry options are available – gold pendants, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, earrings, anklets and even pieces worn around the waist. Gold has always been the metal of choice to carve ornaments from, right from the middle ages. Broadly, gold jewelry is grouped into three main kinds – Antique, Traditional and the Modern or Contemporary.

Antique Gold Jewelry

Antique gold jewelry is predominantly a reflection of lifestyle of the royalty especially in the middle ages. In those times, emperors, kings and queens used to wear gold jewelry which supposedly carried special magical and healing powers that cured illnesses and brought good luck. Antique jewelry is available in all the usual jewelry options – from pendants to chains. Antique gold jewelry is not only worn on several occasions, but it also forms a collector’s item. In the true sense of the word, antique gold jewelry is several hundreds or thousands of years old. Brand new jewelry can be made in antique designs, but they are not quite the same as genuine antique articles.

In the Georgian period, goldsmiths used to carve and design gold by hand and create intricate motifs of flowers, insects, birds, leaves and animals, which the royalty wore. It was only in the Victorian period that gold jewelry, which earlier remained with royalty and upper class echelons, became accessible to the middle class. Victorian period has presented the world with a treasure trove of antique gold jewelry. Then came the Art Nouveau period with its highly creative and stylish patterns. Later, during the Edwardian period diamonds began to be studded in gold.

Traditional Gold Jewelry

Tradition is nothing but customs or a set of rituals passed on from generation to generation. In many parts of the world, especially in India, gold is intimately associated with most traditions. Traditional gold jewelry is intricately interwoven with Indian culture. The jewelry designs are ancient and each country and regions within a country had their own unique style and pattern. As time passed, these patterns became traditional symbols representing a region, kingdom or era.

In India, the Mughal Empire greatly influenced gold jewelry making and Mughal traditional jewelry is famed for its exclusive designs. Traditional gold jewelry is made by jewelers around the world and they are the first choice for weddings and festivals.

Contemporary Gold Jewelry

Contemporary gold jewelry designs are marked by sleek, symmetrical lines, abstract and geometric patterns. They are often simple and stylized, light weight and affordable. Most contemporary jewelry patterns can be worn with casual and business attire and is often the jewelry of choice of the modern woman. They are great for making an elegant style statement, without the heaviness or chunkiness of traditional or antique patterns.

Whatever pattern you choose, gold jewelry never goes out of style and will give you a lifetime of enjoyment. You cannot go wrong buying gold, to wear or as an investment.