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  • How Did Jewelry Get Its Name?
    Jewelry History Musings

    How Did Jewelry Get Its Name?

    Jewelry has been a part of human culture for centuries. It adds beauty and elegance to our appearance, but have you ever wondered how jewelry got its name? The history of the word “jewelry” is intriguing, filled with connections to different languages and cultures.

  • Gemstones as Armor in Ancient India
    Jewelry History

    Gemstones as Armor in Ancient India

    In ancient India, gemstones held deep cultural, spiritual, and symbolic significance. Maharajas (kings) and warriors didn’t just wear jewelry to showcase their wealth. They also embedded gemstones into their armor, swords, and shields, believing these precious stones would protect them and grant them divine power in battle.

  • Napoleon's Secret Code Rings
    Jewelry History

    Napoleon's Secret Code Rings

    Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French military leader and emperor, was known for his brilliant strategies and clever innovations. One of his lesser-known tactics involved using jewelry as a tool for communication. He gifted his trusted generals rings engraved with secret codes.

  • Egyptian Scarab Amulets: Symbols of Protection, Rebirth, and Power
    Jewelry History

    Egyptian Scarab Amulets: Symbols of Protection, Rebirth, and Power

    The scarab beetle, an iconic symbol of ancient Egyptian culture, has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and art enthusiasts for centuries. Scarab amulets, crafted in the likeness of this sacred insect, embodied profound spiritual, religious, and cultural meanings. These small objects carried the weight of divine protection, the promise of renewal, and the mystery of the afterlife.

  • The Iconic Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Pendant
    Jewelry History

    The Iconic Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Pendant

    The Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Pendant is one of the most recognizable pieces in the world of fine jewelry. Introduced in 1968, this timeless design is beloved for its simple yet sophisticated charm. Its signature motif, the four-leaf clover, symbolizes luck, love, and harmony.

  • Can Astronauts Wear Jewelry in Space?
    Jewelry History Musings

    Can Astronauts Wear Jewelry in Space?

    Jewelry is often worn as a symbol of love, personal expression and identity. But can astronauts bring this touch of humanity into the cold, zero-gravity environment of space? The answer is yes, though it’s not as common or straightforward as wearing jewelry on Earth.

  • The Stuart Sapphire
    Jewelry History

    The Stuart Sapphire

    The Stuart Sapphire is one of the most remarkable gemstones in the British Crown Jewels, renowned for its vivid royal blue hue and its storied past. As a symbol of royal power and legacy, this sapphire has witnessed centuries of dynastic upheavals, from the English Civil War to its current place of honor in the Imperial State Crown.

  • The Lover’s Eye Jewelry Tradition
    Jewelry History

    The Lover’s Eye Jewelry Tradition

    Few pieces of jewelry carry the intrigue and romantic sentiment of Lover’s Eye jewelry. These uniquely personal adornments, popularized in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, feature miniature portraits of a lover’s eye. They are painted with exquisite detail and set into rings, brooches, pendants, or lockets.