Jewelry has significantly evolved since its beginnings in the ancient world. Silver and gold jewelry were used in a functional capacity to attach or secure clothing items. The first jewelry was made of thorns, flint, and sticks.

During the Bronze Age, jewelry was then handcrafted from metal. The purely practical uses of gold jewelry ceased in the Middle Ages, and silver jewelry became ornaments used solely for adornment and decoration.

In the Georgian era, jewelry was often backed with aluminum and had closed mounts. This was to improve or change the color and brilliance of the precious stone.

Victorians preferred mourning jewelry, which continuously had black enamel and was engraved with the deceased’s date and encapsulated a lock of their hair. Jewelry sometimes had a removable glass panel to store the hair.