Jewelry is an expression of the human need to adorn the body and look beautiful. Through the ages, jewelry has been used for a number of reasons and to fulfill a number of functions. A few of them are listed below:
Display of wealth: It is a common known fact that people who flaunt jewelry are associated with status and power in society.
Jewelry display and storage is symbolic of monetary stability. The best examples of such a show are celebrities and the "creme de la creme" of societies around the world.
Functional use: Jewelry such as clasps, pins, and buckles are associated with specific functions, the most common being the holding together of fabric. Such jewelry pieces are unisex and enable a flashy show of intricate designs.
Symbolism: Special jewelry is sometimes created to display membership or status. Artificial gold stars and the gold platted ones play a very important role to the ranks within the aviation industry and the military.
Protection: In earlier times and in the mystical world of wizards, special jewelry was designed in the form of amulets and wands. The idea behind the special designs is to protect the wearer from the elements or other humans or mystical beings.
Artistic display: Jewelry is also designed as display pieces.
Most cultures all over the world have at some point or the other maintained a tradition of accumulating and hoarding large amounts of wealth in the form of jewelry. In numerous cultures, dowries or special wedding give always include jewelry, in the form of multiple chains, coins, or simply pure metal nuggets. In the earlier times, pre historic and later, jewelry was also used as currency for trade. A good example of this are the slave beads that were a common sight during the slave trade in Europe.
Many of the items of jewelry like the dedicated brooches and special buckles were initially designed purely with a specific function in mind. Somehow in time, they evolved into decorative pieces and simply to add glamour and quality. There is religion specific jewelry also available. The crucifix in Christianity and the Star of David in the case of the Jews are good examples of such jewelry pieces. In the west, it is a common practice for couples getting married to exchange specially designed 'wedding bands'.
In some cultures, the wearing of medals and amulets are supposed to symbolize the attempt to provide protection. Such jewelry is usually made with stones, plants, animal body parts or glyphs. In the case of jewelry functions, even though there are examples that highlight the fact that they are used for artistic display, the functions of symbolism, wealth and power are clearly more dominant. In the latter part of the 19th century, the work of masters like Peter Carl Faberge and Rene Lalique became famous and added to the functionality of jewelry.
Jewelry functionality differs from one part of the world to another and individually from person to person. The different types of jewelry available on the market today and the wholesale range have added to the popularity and use of the various designs.
Source: http://www.classicarticles.com/Article/Jewelry-Can-Be-A-Multifunctional-Item/65577
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