What Does Your Jewellery Say About You?

Earrings in, necklace on, rings adding bling; you're good to go. But why do we wear jewellery? What does our jewellery say about us? And when did jewellery become such an important part of our wardrobe and culture? Read on to discover the hidden symbols and meanings behind the jewellery you love.

18 APRIL 2023 - H. SAMUEL EDITOR

Earrings in, necklace on, rings adding bling; you're good to go. But why do we wear jewellery? What does our jewellery say about us? And when did jewellery become such an important part of our wardrobe and culture? Read on to discover the hidden symbols and meanings behind the jewellery you love.

What Does Your Jewellery Say About You?

From trendsetters to traditionalists, rule breakers to conformists, the bold to the introverted, we all love a different style of jewellery and we each have our reasons for ‘liking what we like’. Whether you love a statement piece of symbolic jewellery, or you like to keep things minimal and understated, the type of jewellery you wear says a lot about you and the message you want to portray.

Jewellery Symbols and Meanings

Jewellery design features many different symbols, some we wear because of their meaning, and others we pick because they look gorgeous or complement your look.  From religious to spiritual, family to friendship, let’s take a look at some of the most common symbols found in jewellery.

Cross Jewellery

Cross jewellery is a timeless design that’s been around for millennia. 90s and early 2000s jewellery trends saw a huge surge in the popularity of cross jewellery with our fave popstars and actors proudly displaying cross necklaces regardless of their religious beliefs (and riling up the Vatican as a result). And now in 2023, we’re seeing crosses feature on jewellery from both well-known and individual jewellery retailers with the return of 90s style. Controversial or not, cross jewellery is a symbol that’s here to stay.

Infinity Jewellery

The infinity shape doesn’t just look great, its symbolism holds great meaning too. Often gifted as a symbol of forever love and commitment, the infinity symbol (similar to the figure 8 laying on its side) makes beautiful necklaces and earrings, and many engagement rings feature subtle infinity designs to mark the beginning of a love everlasting.

Heart Jewellery

The symbol of love, heart-shaped jewellery and heart pendants never go out of style. Heart-shaped jewellery is a safe bet when gifting someone you love whether it’s a romantic partner or a best friend, and they come in a range of metals and styles: heart necklaces, heart rings, and heart earrings being some of the most popular.

Star Jewellery

The symbol of guidance and protection, stars have been used in jewellery design for centuries, whether engraved or shaped into metal. When we think of the way we use the term ‘star’ in our language, it’s a symbol of positivity (‘she’s a star student’), affirmation (‘you’re such a star’), and motivation (‘reach for the stars’).

Star jewellery is a lovely way to symbolise to a friend or family member that they have helped guide you in life – after all, we’ve been using stars for navigation since the dawn of time.

Tree of Life Jewellery

The Tree of Life symbolises different things in different cultures. For some, it’s a symbol of family; the roots being the grounding force, the place to call home, the leaves symbolising the growth of a family and new beginnings.

For others, the Tree of Life symbolises a connection to everyone and everything. The roots reach deep into the Earth whilst the leaves reach upwards harvesting the energy of the sun and moon. It’s the symbol that we and nature are interconnected and you’re never alone (which we agree, is a lovely sentiment).

Growth and strength are also symbolic of the Tree of Life. When you consider the strength of the roots of a tree (they can crack pavements and even move houses), it’s no wonder trees are a universal symbol of strength. They can withstand the most powerful of storms and provide us with protection from harsh elements. Let’s not forget they give us life itself, by producing oxygen. Got a strong friend who has weathered the worst of storms and bloomed on the other side? Tree of Life jewellery is a great way of showing them how much you respect them for their grit and strength.

Initial Jewellery

Jewellery featuring the initials of your name or that of a loved one has always been a trend we love, but in recent years it’s stamped its mark on the jewellery industry with initial necklaces being a really popular choice. Jewellers across the land are pushing their initial jewellery over social media and emails. But with these types of necklaces being something you’re likely to wear every day, make sure you invest in solid gold, silver, or platinum to prevent tarnishing. Alternatively, gold-plated necklaces are an option but care for them by not spraying perfume once they’re on and removing them before showering or swimming.

History of Jewellery: What Culture Did Jewellery Come From?

The earliest known jewellery was created in modern-day Iran around 3.000 to 400 BC. Amongst other jewellery items, stone amulets and seals (ancient styles of necklaces) that featured stars and floral designs - and were believed to have spiritual meaning - are the most commonly known from this time. Whilst they were worn by those considered noble in society, more often, these pieces of jewellery were offered as gifts to the Gods and used to dress up statues. Tombs recovered in recent times also tell us that people were mummified wearing every type of jewellery imaginable.

Jewellery has come a long way since 400 BC, but we still see ancient symbols in modern jewellery such as the scarab (visually similar to the dung beetle), ankh (similar to a cross but with a loop at the top of the cross instead of a straight bar), pyramids and the all-seeing eye.

How Does Jewellery Represent Culture?

Jewellery can be worn for aesthetic purposes, to represent wealth or both.

In South Asian culture, jewellery has long been a symbol of status, power, and wealth. Gold or diamond jewellery highlights the disparity between the rich and the poor and brides are draped in stunning jewellery on their wedding day. However, the rules state gold jewellery is to be worn above the waist only, whilst silver jewellery can be worn from the waist down.

In Chinese culture, jewellery is worn more for its spiritual meaning than aesthetic purposes. Animals are significant in Chinese culture, particularly:

Dragon and Phoenix – the Chinese Symbol of Yin and Yang

With dragons being considered the ruler of beasts and the phoenix the king of birds, together they represent harmony and balance – exactly what you need in a marriage. These mythical creatures are often represented on bangles worn by the bride on her wedding day.

Gold Pigs – the Chinese Symbol of Good Luck

In Chinese culture, pigs represent prosperity, abundance and fertility, all of which are considered vital to the future happiness of a couple on their big day. Gold pig necklaces are gifted to the bride for her to wear on her wedding day.

How Does Jewellery Tell a Story?

The jewellery we buy and pass through the generations has its own unique story to tell. Heirloom jewellery items become about so much more than the way they look or how they complement an outfit. The accompanying stories and anecdotes surrounding the pieces are what make them so special.

Whether you treat yourself to a dazzling emerald ring that represents a pivotal moment in your life, or your other half has a gorgeous bangle engraved with a special message, these pieces will be with you for a lifetime. They’ll take you back to that special moment in time, or a period in your life when you had to dig deep and stay strong. Quality jewellery lasts a lifetime, and so does the story it tells.