History of Beaded Jewelry

The Timeless Allure of Beaded Jewelry: A Historical Journey

Beaded jewelry, an ancient art form, has secured an esteemed position in the chronicles of human adornment. With its meticulous craftsmanship and captivating allure, beaded ornaments have stood the test of time, symbolizing cultural heritage, individuality, and societal standing. Join us on a captivating historical voyage as we delve into the enthralling narrative of beaded jewelry.
The Shimmering Journey: Evolution of Beaded Jewelry

The Shimmering Journey: Evolution of Beaded Jewelry

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have adorned themselves with jewelry as a means of self-expression, cultural identity, and personal adornment. Among the vast array of jewelry types, beaded jewelry holds a special place, captivating hearts with its exquisite beauty and versatility. Over the centuries, beaded jewelry has evolved, reflecting the diverse cultural, social, and artistic influences of different eras. From humble beginnings as simple stringed shells and stones to intricate masterpieces adorning the necks, wrists, and ears of people worldwide, the evolution of beaded jewelry is a testament to human creativity and craftsmanship.
The History of Wearing Earrings

The History of Wearing Earrings

Earrings are among the oldest types of jewelry and they can be found on every continent throughout history. But how did earrings first come into fashion?

Ear piercing is possibly the oldest form of piercing in the world. It has been used to indicate rank, status or to display wealth. Sometimes, ears were pierced for religious reasons, as is still common in some Hindu traditions. We can already find examples of earrings in early history

March 13, 2021 — Stephanie White
The History of Giving Jewelry as a Gift

The History of Giving Jewelry as a Gift

Almost everyone has given or received a piece of jewelry as a gift at some point in their lives. We love to give our loved ones rings, necklaces, or bracelets for special occasions, such as graduations, engagements, weddings, births, and anniversaries. These objects will often have a special meaning to us, because of the occasion and our relationship to the person who gave them to us. 
The Oldest Known Jewelry in the World

The Oldest Known Jewelry in the World

Whenever you wear jewelry, whether it is a necklace, a ring, or a pair of earrings, you are following in the footsteps of a tradition that is thousands of years old. Humans have been wearing jewelry since the dawn of time, and some of the oldest known pieces of jewelry can be traced back as far as 100,000 B.C.E. But what type of jewelry did ancient humans wear and why did they wear it?
Where Handmade Jewelry Began

Where Handmade Jewelry Began

The history of handmade jewelry is almost as old and rich as the earth itself. While the people of prehistoric times would adorn their bodies with natural items found among them such as shells and animal teeth, handmade jewelry became a bit more significant within ancient civilizations like Egypt and China. They began to make jewelry out of precious stones and raw materials which required great skill to be mined and made into pieces of jewelry. Each piece would be uniquely crafted for the person wearing it. This in turn, of course, made jewelry accessible to only a small part of the population and was mostly used to show status and rank.
January 13, 2020 — SWCreations Jewelry
antique jewelry

Jewelry History Timeline: Part One, Antiquity

It's genuinely fascinating to see the way jewelry evolves over time. The differences between what's made today and what was made 100 years ago tell an infinite variety of stories, not to mention the centuries of jewelry history that came before. From antiquity to the present day, the rise and fall of different fashions, technology, and resources have woven an elaborate tapestry for admirers and creators to adore.
October 20, 2019 — SWCreations Jewelry
beaded earrings

A Brief & Storied History of Handmade Jewelry

The art of crafting jewelry by hand is one that predates much of human history. Even before the first written words were invented around 6,000 years ago, people were making ornaments out of stone, bone, and other materials to be worn on the body. Gold necklaces have been found in ancient Babylonian archaeological sites which are estimated to be around 8,000 years old. It seems that jewelry has existed as long as civilization itself, and throughout history has been most often made by hand. 
October 16, 2019 — SWCreations Jewelry
3 Ancient Beaded Jewelry Inspirations for the Modern Wardrobe

3 Ancient Beaded Jewelry Inspirations for the Modern Wardrobe

Discovered in the prehistoric Skhul Caves of Israel, this beaded necklace is the oldest piece of jewelry known to man, dating just 110,000 years. Handmade jewelry displaying the intricate work of coastal artisans has been found scattered throughout the region. Seashells, rock, and weathered wood were among the materials used to craft each piece. Most intriguing of all is the use of the deep sea snail, Nassarius, in beaded rope necklaces. Each shell is woven together along a chain to create a necklace fitting of a mermaid queen. For more modern-day mermaid inspiration, check out these sea born inspirations.

January 09, 2019 — SWCreations Jewelry
heart of the ocean

The True Story of the Heart of the Ocean

The movie "Titanic" may have revolved around several fanciful stories, but Rose's fabulous gift, the Heart of the Ocean, wasn't one of them. Not completely.

The real diamond, on which the Heart of the Ocean seems to be based, is the Blue Heart. A rare deep blue, it weighs over 30 carats and was cut in France sometime between 1909 and 1910.

June 14, 2015 — SWCreations Jewelry
Ancient Beaded Jewelry: Treasures of the Pharaohs

Ancient Beaded Jewelry: Treasures of the Pharaohs

If you're a fan of beads and beaded jewelry, ancient Egypt should definitely be in your time-travel plans. From pharaoh to laborers, Egyptians loved beads and piled them on at every opportunity. Beads of clay, glass, gemstones, precious metals, even bones, animal teeth, and shells, and the particularly beautiful amulet necklaces and bracelets made of Egyptian faience. True bead-lovers wore entire fishnet dresses made of beads.
June 07, 2015 — SWCreations Jewelry
Ancient Beaded Jewelry: Roman Glass

Ancient Beaded Jewelry: Roman Glass

Looking at Roman glass is like looking at time. Centuries in the soil gave it a ghostlike patina, colored shadows glowing on the surface. It's amazing that so fragile a material survived, which is why museums treasure their ancient Roman glass objects.

Upscale glass in Rome

Glass-working was slow to come to Rome, but travelers to the east, especially Syria, were fascinated by it and soon imported glass was all the rage. It wasn't cheap. One rich man was entertaining Emperor Augustus at dinner when a slave dropped a glass goblet and broke it. The rich man immediately had the slave killed. Augustus may have been a battle-hardened general, but this was too much. He said nothing, but proceeded to pick up and drop every remaining goblet, smashing the entire set.

May 28, 2015 — SWCreations Jewelry