Jewelery has been part of the Indian civilization since ancient history. They were in fashion since ancient civilizations as Harappa and Mohanjodaro. Made out of almost any material, jewelry is basically adorned to highlight nearly any body part. Be it the traditional jewelry or the latest ones which are increasingly in demand, i.e. the costume & imitation jewelery. There is no dearth when it comes to accentuating the beauty with varied imaginative & stunningly designed jewelry items.
When it comes to defining the materials used for shaping jewelry items, then anything under the roof of the sky can be transformed into breathtaking ornamental items. Such as, metals such as gold & silver, copper, ivory, woods, precious gemstones as diamonds & pearls, beads, shells, leather, plastic, glass, bone & others. They help define varied intricately designed shapes adding on to the beauty of these adorning items.
Jewelry are perfect for any occasion, be it a formal or ceremonial occasion or casual ones. They do not need any particularly specified occasion for exhibiting the beauty. Wide array of jewelry items which can beautify the varied body parts are :
- Bangles
- Anklets
- Nose pins
- Hair pins
- Necklaces
- Rings
- Earrings
- Armlets
- Bracelets
- Toe Rings
Jewelry designs can vary from vintage and antique designs to ethnic designs to very flashy and chunky jewelry. Often stone studded, engraved, electroplated and designed using various colors for creating an eye catching effect, these jewelry items are designed for different occasions including bridal jewelry, formal and informal jewelry. The intricate motifs still holds the same charm as they did centuries ago simply because of their absorbing styles.
Sapphire...the word sounds as magical as the images it conjures up...sapphire blue skies, sapphire blue waters, and sapphire blue flowers. In the eighteenth century, any blue gemstone was categorized as a hyacinth, for the bluish flower. Today, we know that the correct nomenclature for a sapphire is "corundum". Although the word sapphire usually means a blue gem, we also find sapphires in a wide range of colors including violet, green, yellow, orange, pink and purple.
Emerald takes its place in the world of gems as one of the three most popular colored gemstones [sapphires and rubies are the other two!]. Emeralds have an interesting legacy of violence, romance, and controversy. The first emerald mines were opened in Egypt, although the exact dates are not known. The Cleopatra emerald mine opened as early as 300 BC. Ancient peoples attributed all kinds of magical qualities to emeralds. Emerald rings and emerald jewelry symbolized fertility and rebirth. Scholars wore emeralds to strengthen their memory and become more eloquent. Lovers wore emerald rings to learn the truth of their loved one's intentions. In the sixteenth century violence became part of the emerald's history when Spanish conquistadors looted thousands of emeralds from the mines in South America. This event put South America on the gemstone map. From this time forward, royalty in many different countries looked to South America for a supply of the beautiful green emerald stones to adorn their rings, necklaces, bracelets and crowns. 
Ruby... when you say the word, you can visualize the colorful, emotional images which rubies invoke: fiery hearts, passion, romance, blood, and power. Ruby's coveted red color ranges from medium red to dark orangey red to purplish red. The reddest rubies most likely convinced ancient peoples of ruby's medicinal powers. Thirteenth century medical literature from India tells us that a ruby could cure digestive disorders. Warriors in Burma put rubies under their skin to protect them in battle. Other ancient cultures felt that rubies brought peace and prosperity. If you wore a ruby ring, it would bring health, wealth, wisdom, and love. Some even believed that if you wore a ruby ring or ruby brooch on the left side that you would have a magical ability to live among your enemies in peace.
The Victorian period follows the reign of Queen Victoria in Great Britain from 1836 to 1901. Queen Victoria's love for her husband and children inspired jewelry that reflected a romantic and sentimental outlook. Flowers, hearts, bows and birds inspired beautiful pieces of jewelry which showed the craftsmanship of the Victorian age. Serpent motifs were also popular. Gemstones were often used during the Victorian period and helped keep jewelry affordable for the mass market. Garnets, amethysts, corals, turquoise, and seed pearls were in style. Opals were increasingly popular as Queen Victoria adored them. Diamonds were discovered in South Africa in 1867 and became popular during this period. Human hair was also incorporated in jewelry during the Victorian Period. This jewelry was given as a token of love and also worn as mourning jewelry. 
The Art Nouveau period began circa 1890 and ended around 1919. This period represents the turn of the century and the coming of the "modern age". The feminine form was highly celebrated, as were soft curves, sinuous lines, and pale colors. The representation of the female head with long flowing hair is prevalent during the Art Nouveau period. Nature motifs also remained strong. Butterflies, dragonflies, snakes, poppies, orchids, irises and water lilies prevailed in jewelry design. Jewelry which was created during the Art Nouveau period embodied art for the sake of art, as well as a dramatic trend in fashion. Free flowing asymmetrical lines were important and emphasized the designers innovative skills. Because materials were not as important as design and craftsmanship, a number of varied gemstones were popular. Amber, opals, moonstones, citrines, and peridots were used along with other interesting materials like horn, copper, tortoise-shell, ivory, carved glass, shells, pearls, and gemstones cut in cabachon. 
The Edwardian Period lasted from 1901 to circa 1920. Edward VII and his lovely Danish bride, Alexandria, brought a cosmopolitan flair to fashions and jewelry during this exuberant time in history. Jewelers used platinum and diamonds to create intricate and delicate filigree patterns that resembled lace. Light and airy designs became hallmarks of Edwardian jewelry. Alexandria wore a choker type necklace called a "dog collar" which became popular during the Edwardian period. Pearls were quite fashionable, along with jewels for the hair, or "tiaras" combined with beautiful dangling earrings. King Edward enjoyed sports and encouraged the use of sporting motifs. He also helped make his good luck stone, the peridot, very popular. The elegance, beauty and superb craftsmanship of Edwardian jewelry has remained unparalleled through the ages.
The Art Deco Period, which began circa 1920 and ended around 1935, produced dazzling jewelry which was in sharp contrast to the jewelry of the previous periods. The emphasis shifted from soft colors and flowing lines to bold, bright colors and straight lines. Women cut their long locks and began wearing their hair short and boyish. This was the era of Jazz and flappers. Art Deco jewelry complimented the flamboyant and playful attitude of the day. Egyptian influences were strong and motifs like the sphinx and falcon were popular. New geometric cuts for gems went hand-in-hand with the symmetry and streamlined look of Art Deco jewelry. Long earrings were popular, along with diamond watches, pearls, beads, and cocktail rings. Emeralds, sapphires and rubies became the gems of choice in Art Deco jewelry. 
The Retro jewelry period began in the 1930s during the depression years and lasted until 1950. Jewelry during the Retro period is characterized by chunky styles, that showcased large colorful gemstones in oversized, rectangular cuts. Synthetic rubies and sapphires were popular along with citrines and aquamarines. Yellow gold became the metal of choice as platinum was not available to the jewelry industry during World War II. Designers opted for multi-colored jewelry pieces in tasteful combinations of rose, yellow and green gold. Charms came into vogue during this era and were worn in large quantities on link bracelets. Illusion settings in engagement rings, with elaborately carved settings, gave the look of a much larger diamond for a modest price tag. These beautiful pieces were favored by the economy minded women of the 1930's and are just as popular today. Tiffany, Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels made their mark on the jewelry world with bright and fashionable jewelry which appealed to the Hollywood set. These designer pieces are highly collectible to this day.
