From the history of beads
and jewelry to the science and composition of gemstones, these interesting tidbits provide an interesting and entertaining look at the world of jewelry!
Jewelry -
The word jewelry comes from the ancient French word joaillerie, which means joy and gladness.
Earliest Examples Of
Jewelry -
A pair of beads made from Nassarius snail shells approximately 100,000 years old are
thought to be the earliest known examples of jewelry.
Beryl Stone -
Emerald and Aquamarine are
different colors of the same stone: beryl.
Moulin Rouge Necklace -
The most expensive piece of jewelry ever designed specifically for a movie was the necklace worn by
Nicole Kidman in the musical Moulin Rouge. The $1 million
creation was designed by Stefano Canturi of platinum and
1,308 diamonds with combined total of 134 carats.
Cleopatra -
According to legend, Cleopatra once crushed a pearl, dissolved it in wine and drank it over a bet with
Marc Antony. The pearl was reported to be worth about five
million sesterces (approximately $12,500).
Gold Nugget -
Gold nuggets are very hard to find, but the biggest one that has ever been found weighed over two
hundred pounds in Australia. The largest gold nugget
found in the US was just under 200 pounds in California.
Electricity + Silver -
Silver is a great conductor of heat and electricity.
60 Miles of Gold -
You can make a 60-mile wire out of a single ounce of gold.
You can make a 60-mile wire out of a single ounce of gold.
Queen Elizabeth II -
Queen Elizabeth II keeps her jewelry collection below Buckingham Palace in a special room
roughly the size of an ice rink.
Engagement Ring -
Tradition of giving fiancée engagement
ring was introduced by Maximilian of Austria in 1477. He gave
his soon-to-be wife Mary of Burgundy masterfully crafted ring
as a promise of marriage.
