| Once the Renaissance came along, and world | | | | children of bead makers often learned how to work |
| exploration increased, the complexity and variety of | | | | with beads from a very early age. |
| jewelry skyrocketed. Gold and jewels from the New | | | | When the Industrial Revolution came along, and the |
| World allowed jewelers to work with new designs and | | | | new middle class began to grow, jewelry was put in |
| materials. | | | | the hands of millions of people who would have never |
| The Aztec and Mayans created numerous works of | | | | have had access to it before. In the modern times, |
| jewelry with gold because it was so readily available | | | | widespread wealth and cheaper methods to get the |
| to them. Often the Aztecs would adorn their gold | | | | components of jewelry, has allowed a huge base of |
| jewelry with feathers to denote status. Sadly, the | | | | people to wear various assortments of jewelry. |
| ready availability of gold for the Aztecs would prove | | | | Currently, the United States is first in the world for |
| their downfall as the gold lust of the Spanish obliterated | | | | buying jewelry, making up 31 percent of the world's |
| their civilization, ending it forever. | | | | market. Japan, India and China make up nine percent |
| The Mayans would make amazing jewelry out of | | | | each, while Italy takes up five percent. |
| jade, gold, silver, bronze and copper, creating similar | | | | By 2015, the United States will only make up 25 |
| designs to the Aztecs, often with lavish headdresses. | | | | percent of the world's market, while China and India will |
| In their pre-history, the Mayan had jewelry of stone | | | | account for 13 percent each. The Middle East will |
| and bone due to their limited access to metal. In the | | | | maintain their market share of nine percent, while |
| Mayan Empire, only the merchants and nobility wore | | | | Europe and Japan will see their share shrink to less |
| expensive jewelry, as did the Aztec. | | | | than four percent for Japan and three percent for Italy |
| In India, the legacy with jewelry making is considered | | | | and the United Kingdom. |
| the longest in the world. India developed its techniques | | | | As we can see, throughout history, jewelry has |
| through 5,000 years of uninterrupted discovery. | | | | changed greatly but the reasons behind wearing it has |
| Until 2100 BC, until metal was widely used by the East | | | | not. As it did 40,000 years ago, it still denotes status |
| Indians, beads were used to denote status. Often, | | | | and wealth and is seen as a symbol of power. |
| beads would be painted with lavish designs and | | | | |