If you talk to an archaeologist, he will no doubt explain to you that people have been wearing jewelry since the earliest ages. Why is that? What is it about jewelry that fascinates us so that we just can't stay away from it?

The first purpose that this of course serves is that of adornment. For some reason we believe that a well-crafted piece of jewellery will make us look more beautiful - especially to members of the opposite sex. In our day and age, the most popular materials that jewellery are made of are gold, silver, copper, diamonds and other precious metals. Even plastic jewellery is still popular in modern times.

Although this custom is very old (one will find copper bracelets on mummies of centuries long gone), people did not always use metal to manufacture jewelry from. Bone was once a popular material for the creation of items of adornment, as well as stone. Even items made from the bark or branches of trees were often used to enhance the beauty of the one wearing it.

Beautification is and was never the sole reason for wearing jewels. In this regard think for example of the ring of the Pope, or the crown worn by the King. In these cases a particular type of jewellery is used to show off the status and importance of a specific person. Even in traditional societies, those in senior positions wore special types of jewels to denote the fact that they were not simply members of the underclass.

Closely related to this, is the use of jewels to show off one's status and worldly possessions. There is no doubt that a famous movie star will never be seen dead wearing a ring crowned with cubic zirconias, however beautiful they are. Even everyday consumer items, such as a watch, can in this regard become a status symbol.

Something else that human society uses jewelry for, is to express a specific emotion, or the relationship between two people. Nowadays we get things like friendship rings and a beautiful engagement ring has become the symbol of the love two people hold for each other and of their intention to spend the rest of their lives together. A wedding band fulfills much the same purpose.

From the above it's quite clear that the reasons for wearing jewelry are much more complex than what it initially seems. It has become part of human culture and it says much more about the wearer than he or she might ever imagine.