Exploring Different Culturally Significant Jewelry Items From Around The World

We are fond of wearing jewelry for various reasons, including special occasions such as engagements and weddings, and also to feel and look nice. However, these ornaments hold special meaning in different cultures worldwide and showcase rich traditions and customs.

Jewelry is one item that has only gained significance over time, and become almost a mandatory part of our life. Throughout the world, women and men wear jewelry because of its cultural, traditional and even religious importance.

In many cultures, women wear jewelry to mark an essential milestone in their life, such as being married or engaged. Adorning with gold is also considered as a symbol of being wealthy in certain traditions. Let’s take a look at some of the most culturally significant jewelry pieces worldwide.

1.Rings In America

While rings continue to increase in their popularity and demand worldwide, the Americans are quite fond of these jewelry items. Wearing a ring is considered a sign of being engaged to be married, and signifies life-long commitment and dedication.

The engagement rings are always trending in the United States as well as in many other parts of the world. People are gradually opting for colored stones and alternatives to gold and diamonds, and custom-made rings are raging a storm in the market.

2.Indian Jewelry

Jewelry is given utmost importance and respect in the Indian culture. Indian women love adorning themselves with jewels from head to toe, and brides wear various ornaments like nose rings, bangles, earrings, bracelets, necklace, toe rings, and the like on their wedding day.

Indian women also wear a mangalsutra ( a chain that holds significance for a wife and marks her status as a married woman). There are also jewels reserved for special occasions, such as visiting temples and marking religious day ceremonies.

3.Beaded Jewelry In Africa

In African cultures, beaded jewels have been quite popular for a very long time. Wearing beads of different colors and designs is used by tribe members to announce membership rights, and also to signify status or declare religiosity.

Beaded jewelry is composed of various materials, such as stones, ivory, ostrich eggs and shells. In native regions of Africa, men and women wore beads to communicate, and also to signify their marital status, family and children.

4.Greek Komboloi

The people in Greece are fond of wearing beaded jewels called komboloi. These beaded jewelry items are also thought to relieve stress and anxiety, which is why they are also popularly called worry beads.

Komboloi is made from colorful glass and amber pieces, and has been used since the twentieth century. In the old days, the Greeks would use these beads while praying, but over time, they lost their religious significance and became ornamental pieces.

5.Chinese Jade

The Chinese hold jade in high regard, and this has been the case for more than seven thousand years. Jade has a cultural significance for the Chinese, and is so precious that it is much more costly than other stones like gold and silver.

Jade is considered a symbol of beauty and is also very durable and long-lasting. It also has religious and spiritual importance as it protects people from evil and wards off bad luck. Many Chinese people adorn themselves and their households with jade even today.