How Culture And Religion Has A Profound Influence On Jewelry
An example of jewelry and religion impacting nations can be seen in the treasures preserved in ancient Egypt. Statues of Egyptian gods and goddesses were fashioned in gold, adorned with gemstone and precious metal symbols. A majority of the religious emblems like the lotus, scarab and others were used as motifs in bracelets, necklaces and rings, which adorned the higher echelons of the society as well as priests and priestess.
The stages in historical epochs and the rise of different religious practices, and their impact on jewelry, can be observed in the ancient cultures of Greece, Asia, Africa and other nations across the world. When Christianity was exposed to the Egyptian culture, a radical change was observed: Jewelry items using less gold and inexpensive gemstones began to dominate.
Another transformation in jewelry began with the spread of Islamic influence on Egyptian jewelry. Islamic religion forbade the use of gold by the men-folk, and this led to the slow transition with silver beginning to be the primary metal in making jewelry. The influence of Christianity on jewelry is still evident today. The commonest religious symbols are the Crucifix and the Hebrew Star of David. The Christian crucifix is believed to be the most widely recognized religious symbol in history while The Star of David symbolizes a strong belief in Jewish faith and good fortune.
Rings, bracelets and necklaces, which flaunt the Symbol of Cross, identify the person as a Christian. Similarly, the Christians have strong faith in Rosary beads, bearing the Cross, that are used during prayers. These prayer beads are embellished with gemstones and baubles of different types. Another powerful ornament in Christian jewelry is the ring, which signifies certain tenets of faith like chastity and purity. Baptism, a sacred and very important rite among Christians, has heralded the growth of numerous pieces like rings, pendants and pins. Such ornaments are commonly gifted to the baby during the ceremonial event.
Similarly, Hindu gods and goddesses of India have a major influence in the creation of jewelry items. Certain types of ornaments are worn at specified periods of the year during festivities, and this trend is governed by the culture and religion of the nation. Other ranges of jewelry materials and themes are available. These comprise of medals and pendants depicting saints, gods and goddesses, prayer beads, pins and rosaries. The most popular religious jewelry is designed out of the precious metal gold, but sterling silver is also used. For embellishment purposes, gemstones are extensively utilized.
Countries Jewelry Consumption Market Dynamic
The United States: the new generation will become miscalculates consumption subject. 1970 years after the birth of the new generation of about 55 million people, for the cost of purchasing jewelry clothing every year about 37 billion dollars. New generation of women like price moderate silver jewelry, fresh water pearls and do STH unconventional or unorthodox, has a symbolic jewelry.
France: commercial center had replaced small stores. Gold jewelry consumption accounts for 62% of the market, the main certain business center gold jewellery cheap and fine.
English: “design” had become a major selling point. 51% of the British people have jewelry. 18 K gold products continue to rise, 14 K gold novel style also is a European market. Recently, the design is novel jewelry alternative gold jewellery.
Canada: had low and middle diamond popular. 80% of Canadian women have diamond jewelry in 1996, the total sales volume of $830 million. At present the most popular diamond in low price. In addition, the pearl necklace, metagems protector, leather bags, lighter also began to enter jewelry store.
Portuguese: new regulations had affected market development. They make gold jewellery for 19.25 K (the government regulations including the golden ratio limit), recent champions league relevant organizations to develop a regulations, including the golden ratio will be lowered to 18 K, 14 K and 9 K, for out of habit, reduce the Portuguese sales.
Hungary: the younger generation took silver preference. Gold and silver ornaments has been the country’s women most like to act the role of article, and a younger generation prefer price low style changeful silver is acted the role of. Gold jewelry for more than 40 years old people buy. Cheap jewelry also of considerable development space.
Took Spain: the pearl accessories popular. Japan, accounting for 70% of sales market pearl, time for China’s fresh water from the south China sea beads and flat type of pearl and black pearls. By 18 K gold jewelry, mainly for young people to silver ornaments special favour.
Germany: market in long-term miscalculates flagging. Mainly for export, of which 70% is gold, platinum jewelry, 7% for silver products. Mainly sold to Switzerland, France, Belgium, Japan and North America.
Had the Netherlands: design requirement for concise pay attention to environmental protection. To set the jewelry is given priority to, high, medium and low-grade all have market, senior jewelry company from famous brand, accounted for only 1% of the market, mainly is 40 years old women consumption. By professional designers design, midrange average all has the brand, accounting for about 15% of the market. Not brand and quality, design of tin products, mainly is the cheaper price, product cycle short (a quarter), consumer mainly for 30 years old young people, the market rate of 64%.
Swiss: consumption is transiting two level of development, demand the most is set high quality, a single diamond 18 K gold ring, time for 18 K gold earrings, necklaces, bracelets (chain) and pearl necklaces, earrings, jade and platinum jewelry. Young people like cheap trendy silver ornaments with precious stones.
Egypt: simulation jewelry had a good prospect. The mainland of China’s man-made stone jewelry market in 1996 into Egypt, has dominated the import 52% of the market, and Italy and China Taiwan imitation jewelry products gone from bad to worse.
Iran: rejection miscalculates artificial gem jewelry, like 18 K gold jewelry, and that is a hedge against inflation means savings. And artificial gem jewelry is considered to be the western cultural symbol, thus be rejected.
Transiting venezuela: the market demand slump. Due to the committee, national currency devaluation purchasing power, jewelry market downturn, artificial jewelry, simulation accessories low prices, more popular.
Turkey: teenagers had become the mainstream of the purchase artificial stones. A few high consumer still value gold and silver jewelry and really the jewels. And 9 million 15 ~ 20 years old of adolescents are looking to prices moderate artificial jewelry, artificial jewelry stores like emerge the ground appeared.