Jewelry has long been used in religious ceremonies as well. In Christianity, rings are still used today as a symbol of commitment to one’s spouse in marriage, while a necklace bearing a cross is used as a symbol of faith and commitment to God. Similar to Christianity’s rosary, the Buddhist religion uses prayer beads during meditation to keep count of the number of mantras recited. In India, a bride adorns herself with numerous bangles, jewels, and headdresses as auspicious tokens of the couples’ union.

For centuries jewelry has been used to denote social class and nobility. Pharaohs, kings and queens, princes and princesses, tribal chiefs and emperors each wore their own crowned armor of jewels to distinguish themselves from ordinary classes. The jewels symbolized power, authority, prestige, wealth and nobility.

Today handcrafted jewelry symbolizes a beautiful and unique connection to ancient beliefs, customs and traditions. Handcrafted beaded and handcrafted sterling silver artisan jewelry is a beautiful expression of whatever power you believe it holds for you. There is a universal magic in minerals, stones and crystals, and their magnificence is expressed throughout the ages by every culture on the planet. Whether a symbol of beauty, prestige, nobility, metaphysical power, faith, healing or commitment, jewelry has a rich and diverse history all its own.

Incredibly Handmade is a one of a kind shopping site with unique handcrafted beaded and handcrafted sterling silver artisan jewelry handmade silk shawls, silk scarves, handmade bags, unique embroidered fabric purses and other handmade accessories and ethnic crafts from around the world. Many of these ethnic accessories are handmade by hilltribe people such as the Mien, Karen and Hmong scattered throughout mountainous regions of Asia.

There is probably nothing that can compete with gold for its popularity. Almost every culture treasures it and has done so over the millennia. Gold is a unique metal that has many properties that make it ideal for jewelry. To start with it is extremely malleable. Gold is so soft that jewelers need to add copper and other metals to it in order to make it easy to be worked into shapes and to prevent it from breaking. It also has a wonderful luster and is extremely non reactive. It is very unusual to hear of any person having an allergic reaction to wearing gold close to the skin. Gold is also extremely precious because it is not found in abundance and its supply is artificially controlled in order to keep its price at a high level. Silver is also used as jewelry, and platinum to a lesser extent.

There are many stones and other precious substances that we love to add to gold jewelry. Precious gem stones are extremely popular. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires are some of the most expensive ones. There is a huge list of semi precious stones that are also very beautiful. They include topaz, garnets, amethyst etc. Precious materials of organic origin such as pearl and coral are also worn as jewelry.

Jewelry necklaces, earrings, bracelets etc do not always need to be made of precious metals. There is almost no material that cannot be made into jewelry. Wooden and glass beads make very attractive jewelry. Other materials include woolen yarn, shell, animal teeth and feathers by themselves or in combination with each other. Many ethnic cultures also make jewelry out of coins in a desire to display their movable wealth.

There is a trend these days to make jewelry out of plastic. This jewelry is usually brightly colored and inexpensive to buy and is therefore very popular with young people who appreciate them for their attractiveness. This is in diametrical contrast to people who buy precious jewelry as an investment and not just because it is beautiful.

There is so much variety in jewelry available these days that you can easily find something to suit a particular outfit or a mood. The jewelry you wear says a lot about your personality and should therefore be chosen with a great deal of care. Thankfully, you don’t necessarily have to spend too much on jewelry necklaces etc these days because of the huge variety of different materials available.

A Rich History

The ancient Celts who settled in Ireland many centuries ago, created enchanting designs in jewelry. Celtic craftsmen adapted ideas from nature to produce intricate designs based on simple motifs in silver and other metals. Silver and gold were used by Celtic craftsmen between 2000 BC to around 550 AD to create ornaments that were remarkably sophisticated. Spirals, animal motifs and later crosses were woven into Celtic rings, bracelets, brooches and pendants.

Celtic Crosses

When one thinks of Celtic jewelry, the Celtic cross often comes to mind first. It had its start primarily in Ireland. Celtic crosses are not just crosses that have Celtic knot work on them. The early crosses were equal-armed crosses, enclosed or backed by a circle. After the introduction of Christianity, it was more common to see the equal-armed cross on a pedestal, which then gave it a more elongated form.

The arms symbolize the four quarters of the earth, or the four elements, earth, air, fire, and water. The Celtic cross represents a bridge or passage between heaven and earth. The circle or center ring is a symbol of infinite love and specifically, the endlessness of God’s love. It is a symbol of eternity and the path of the sun in the sky. Given the spiritual ideas and power represented by this jewelry, it is easy to see why Celtic craftsmen were so dedicated to pristine perfection in crafting the Celtic cross.

This symbol represented the very highest ideals and aspirations of the Celts, and silver Celtic ornaments are among the most timeless. Today, there are literal interpretations of the ancient cross symbols, as well as more contemporary designs with hearts or other spiritual symbols.

Celtic Knots

The Celtic knot ornamental patterns were originally created for the Book of Kells, the best-known source of Celtic knots as well as other types of Celtic ornament. The Book of Kells is a fantastic collection of paintings that illuminate the four Gospels in Latin, written in 800 A.D. The knots were also used in other manuscripts and on monuments. They may have also been used in woodcarving and textiles, but these art works have not survived time.

Celtic knots are a prevalent design feature of silver Celtic jewelry. They are complete loops without beginning or end. It is said that good Celtic artists never leave a loose end on a strand and that pure knots should be unending. Celtic animal designs also interlace like knots, but end with feet, heads or tails.

The Celts dominated Western Europe for a thousand years, but only recently has the importance of their influence on cultural, linguistic and artistic development in Europe been understood. The Celts as an ethnic group disappeared from most of Europe with the exception of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands.
The Celts were well educated in areas such as religion, philosophy, geography and astronomy but transmitted their culture only orally, never writing down history or facts. For that reason, there was little knowledge of their culture before their contact with the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. Celtic jewelry such as rings, bracelets, pendants, and brooches were so sought after for their beauty and style, that the trade of Celtic jewelry across the Mediterranean was quite successful.

Today’s Artists

For over a millennium, the intricate knot work and minute decoration of silver Celtic jewelry, woodcarving and calligraphy have enchanted the world. Creating new and fresh designs based on classic ancient symbols and motifs, today’s artists are bringing a new voice and interpretation to age-old designs.