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