Why Do People Love Jewelry?
Posted on June 03 2022
Exodus 39:8-14
He made the breastpiece, the work of a skillful workman, like the workmanship of the ephod: of gold and of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. It was square; they made the breastpiece folded double, a span long and a span wide when folded double. And they mounted four rows of stones on it. The first row was a row of ruby, topaz, and emerald;read more.
and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire and a diamond; and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were set in gold filigree settings when they were mounted. The stones were corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were twelve, corresponding to their names, engraved with the engravings of a signet, each with its name for the twelve tribes.
Why are most of us so attracted to sparkling jewels? I have been obsessed with jewelry as far back into my childhood as I can remember. I have often pondered exactly what it is about jewelry that is so alluring to many of us. After all, it's really just bits of metal and stone. It's like trying to figure out why the act of eating is so intensely pleasurable. We, as human beings are wired to like, want, and need certain things; some for survival and others for sheer pleasure. Our attraction to jewelry is a multifaceted (pun intended) one that stems from several different aspects of the human condition. The use of gold and gems in jewelry can be traced back to almost every ancient culture; jewelry has always been an ever-present part of human civilization. Adorning oneself with jewelry has been consistent across religions, cultures, class, and gender.
Besides our innate attraction to sparkling objects there are other components as well. We have social and esteem needs and jewelry acts as a sign of a person's wealth and status. Jewelry also acts as a representation of our personality and we identify with it on a deep level. One of the most obvious examples of how jewelry touches our hearts is that wedding and engagement rings symbolize eternal love. Exchanging rings at a wedding ceremony is an unforgettable moment shared by two people in love. This is a tradition followed by millions and millions of people around the world for many years.
Since it is no secret that humans are attracted to sparkling things, scientists have been trying to figure out out the psychology behind the lure of shimmering objects. This question has lead scientists to conduct research as to what exactly is the reason for this. Interestingly enough, the findings indicate that our preference for shiny things is linked to our primitive need for water as a vital resource. They believe that people’s preference for sparkling objects has deep evolutionary roots and that we are attracted to things that serve a purpose for fulfilling our innate needs.
Lastly, jewelry is a tangible symbol of our feelings. Unlike clothing and accessories that will wear out and disintegrate over time, a piece of gold, silver, or gemstone jewelry will essentially last forever. A keepsake to be passed down from generation to generation. Jewelry can remind us of our greatest love or our highest achievement. Jewelry can remind us of dearly loved parents and relatives that have moved on from this world. Jewelry can connect a woman to her feminine side more than any other item, and make her feel beautiful if she is in a t-shirt and jeans or even her bathrobe. Jewelry has been a woman's most treasured earthly possession for thousands of years and most likely will be for quite some time to come.
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