| Gold has been in fashion since the early | | | | revealing milky white skin that |
| Egyptian societies adorned almost every | | | | complemented a bejeweled throat. |
| part of their bodies with gold jewelry | | | | Bracelets and earrings were again worn |
| over 3000 years ago. Earrings appeared | | | | by the upper class. The wealthy started |
| in Egyptian fashion around 1500BC. | | | | to carry gold personal cases |
| However, Pharaohs have not been | | | | (pomanders), often intricately inlaid |
| recognized as wearing earrings. | | | | with jewels and depicted motifs, holding |
| Mycenaeans wore gold finger rings while | | | | snuff or personal wares. |
| the Greeks adorned themselves in many | | | | Another curious style of jewelry was the |
| gold jewelry varieties. Women wore | | | | prayer books, which hung on a chain from |
| necklaces, diadems, rings, bracelets and | | | | the waist to the hem of a woman's |
| wreaths. Men ornamented themselves with | | | | skirts. Italians are credited with the |
| finger rings and wreaths. Aphrodite, | | | | wise decision of wearing jewelry to |
| Eros and Artemis were worn as decorative | | | | embellish beauty, rather than as a sign |
| figures on necklaces. Chokers figured | | | | of status. Men of the Italian |
| prominently in Greek gold jewelry | | | | Renaissance did not adorn themselves |
| adornment. Greek men wore earrings that | | | | with much jewelry, preferring instead |
| were thought to be an effeminate | | | | elaborate hat jewels. The advent of gold |
| expression. | | | | chains returned, with both men and women |
| From 300-400AD in China, hair ornaments | | | | partaking in the fashion of adorning |
| were crafted of gold. Ornamental | | | | their necks. In the 17th century, |
| filigree and granulation was applied as | | | | Baroque fashion saw the rise of |
| well as the setting of precious stones. | | | | intricate detail and ostentatious design |
| Ancient Chinese men and women wore gold | | | | of flowing silk fabric, bringing the |
| earrings as a sign of popular adornment, | | | | French court to the forefront of fashion |
| with the higher status peoples wearing | | | | trendsetting. In the classic revival |
| gold and silver and the lower classes | | | | period of the 19th century, traditional |
| bronze and copper. Necklaces were not | | | | Roman cameos reemerged as fashionable, |
| popular among the Ancient Chinese prior | | | | pale faces surrounded by gold. |
| to 700AD. In ancient Japanese culture, | | | | A set of short gold chains, also known |
| jewelry was very rare aside from a few | | | | as the chatelaine, were used for |
| hair ornaments. India began the | | | | carrying keys and other wares from a |
| tradition of wearing gold nose rings | | | | woman's belt. Louis XIV influenced |
| circa 900-1000AD, which was introduced | | | | jewelry fashion when a small gold locket |
| by the Muslims. | | | | was named after his mistress, Lavaliere. |
| In Medieval times, gold jewelry of | | | | In the later 1800s, after excavations in |
| brooches, rings, pendants, belt clasps | | | | Etruscan, Roman and Greek tombs and |
| and hat badges were generally worn | | | | ruins revealed the jewelry of the |
| adorning clothing and by both men and | | | | ancient civilizations. As it happens, |
| women. From the 14th century on, a | | | | fashion would follow in history's |
| heart-shaped gold ring brooch became a | | | | footsteps with this retro-discovery and |
| popular symbol of love between | | | | it became trendy to wear |
| paramours. Jeweled necklaces and tight | | | | archaeologically correct styles of |
| chokers returned in the late 15th | | | | jewelry. |
| century as necklines plummeted, | | | | |