Jewelry Trivia: 15 interesting facts about jewelry you probably didn't know
Jewelry has always played a vital role in the history of humanity. In fact, the act of adorning the body with various ornaments predates the written record and is one of the earliest developments in human history. Whether shell pieces or a dazzling diamond rock, we have always found a way to appreciate the beauty of these natural gifts.
If you love jewelry like we do, here are 15 interesting facts about jewelry that you probably didn't know!:
1. The oldest jewelry is organic!
The oldest known jewelry pieces date back about 100,000 years. You may wonder what they were. Perhaps beautiful gemstones or diamonds? Actually, the oldest jewelry pieces found are a pair of beads made of shell. These organic beads probably served decorative and symbolic purposes.
2. The first diamond
The first diamond found was in India in the 4th century. They quickly became highly valued due to their incredible durability and brilliance. Until the 18th century, people thought India was the only source of diamonds; however, in 1866 a diamond of more than 21 carats was found in South Africa, which grew to become one of the main suppliers of diamonds.
3. Opals and literature
Did you know that until around the 18th century, opals were highly prized and one of the most popular gemstones in Europe? Sir Walter Scott wrote a novel called Anne of Geierstein, where the fire of an opal, owned by the protagonist, was extinguished when touched with holy water. The lady died shortly after. The publication of this book led to a great decline in the popularity of opals as an unlucky stone. Even today, opals are associated with bad luck and misfortune.
4. The first engagement ring
We are so used to the idea of engagement rings in the West that it seems strange to think of a time when this tradition did not exist. The romantic Maximilian of Austria gave his beloved Mary of Burgundy a ring as a promise of the impending nuptials in 1477. This became fashionable and today engagement rings are a multimillion-dollar industry.
5. The most popular rock for engagement rings
Since the 20th century, diamonds have grown in popularity to become the gemstone par excellence. More than 80% of couples choose a diamond engagement ring today, compared to only 10% in 1939! All other gemstones combined account for only about 13% of total engagement ring production.
6. Pearls are almost always cultured
In the early 20th century, the process of culturing pearls commercially began, which made it possible to cultivate pearls. This made pearls easily accessible to everyone. Even today, almost all the pearls you find on the market are cultured pearls.
7. Amber is sap
Amber is made from resin fossilized from trees over millions of years, commonly pine. Genuine amber is warm to the touch with a slight scent of pine.
8. Ruby and Sapphire
Sapphires come in every color under the sun, except red. That's because red sapphires are known as rubies. In every way, except their name and color, these two gemstones are almost identical.
9. Diamonds and peridot
There are several hundred types of gemstones, but only two form in the Earth's mantle. These are diamonds and peridot. Although they form deep in the mantle, these gemstones are mined from the crust. That is where all other gemstones are also mined.
10. Platinum is a rare material
Platinum is much rarer than all other precious metals, with annual production 15 times lower than that of gold and 100 times lower than that of silver. In fact, it is said that all the platinum ever mined would fit in an average American living room.
11. The largest diamond
The largest diamond ever found is known as the Star of David or Cullinan I. It weighs 530 carats and is the largest colorless cut diamond in the world. The Cullinan was presented to King Edward VII and is now part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
12. The most expensive engagement ring
The honor of receiving the most expensive engagement ring in the world goes to Mariah Carey. The ring, which James Packer gave to Carey, cost a staggering 10 million dollars! As a side note, the couple never ended up marrying, which proves that the price of the ring is no guarantee of the relationship's success.
13. The most recognizable jewelry piece
Princess Diana's sapphire engagement ring is often cited as the most recognizable jewelry piece of the 20th century. Kate Middleton now wears the iconic Ceylon blue sapphire surrounded by a halo of diamonds.
14. Replicating diamonds
In the 1950s, scientists were able to successfully grow diamonds in laboratories, providing an eco-friendly, economical, and fast alternative to mined diamonds. Today, the market for synthetic diamonds is flourishing and poses a threat to natural diamonds.
15. The revival of vintage
Jewelry tends to go in and out of fashion. The beautiful designs of the Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau periods are in high demand today and are very popular, especially for engagement rings. This proves that a well-designed jewelry piece is a classic and will never go out of style.
