At the beginning jewels were made from wood, bones, ivory and different metals. After that, gold was discovered and in 3500 B.C people that were assigned with jewel production started to melt this precious metal and pound it into thin sheets and then give it a proper shape for a jewel.
Egyptians used mostly gold for jewels because it was a rare metal, it did not tarnish and it was the pharaohs' favorite. Wearing a jewel was a sign of nobility and common people were not allowed to wear any. They used to combine gold with precious stones if making a special jewel like for the pharaoh's funeral mask or the statues from the tomb.
Romans also adored jewelry. Roman men and women used to wear heavy bronze and golden necklaces and precious rings, even two or three on the same finger. A special jewel made by Romans was a pendant that could be filled with perfume and worn around the neck.
A jewel made in Greece could have been easy to recognize due to its extreme elegance and grace. Greece men used to make jewelry from gold filigree of wire openwork in various models inspired from nature. They also loved colored jewelry and so they were using precious stones and even colored glass and enamel.
In the medieval era jewels were found on the princesses dresses. In France and England existed laws that allowed only the noble people to wear jewels and the artisans and yeomen were forbidden any jewel wearing. Pearls were considered the most exquisite jewelry and the nobility paid a lot of gold for such rarities.
When the era of Hollywood begun the frenzied phenomena of diamonds begun. Any jewel had do contain at least one diamond. Things changed when fashion was declared dead by everyone during 1985-1995.
Nowadays jewels are fashionable again, they can be found everywhere and at any time of day. Swarovsky crystals, pearls, and fake diamonds made from zirconium are now desperately used in making any jewel and can be found even on clothes. What a wonderful world!