| Throughout the last several thousand years all facets | | | | Solidified glass was used to create beads and amulets. |
| of Egyptian life have held a certain allure for modern | | | | Glass as also used as inlay with metal jewelry. In fact, |
| societies including Egypt's history, their massive | | | | Egyptian enameling gave birth to modern cloisonné. |
| buildings and monuments, a very organized system of | | | | Gemstones that were used the most include carnelian, |
| religion including their method of burial, art, and even | | | | jasper, lapis lazuli, malachite, quartz and turquoise. Lapis |
| jewelry. | | | | lazuli was the most important as the blue color |
| Egyptian jewelry was worn for adornment and as | | | | symbolized royalty. The color green represented |
| symbols of wealth and status. Jewelry pieces were | | | | fertility while turquoise symbolized prosperity. |
| fashioned to protect the wearer from evil and to honor | | | | Today many pieces are created due to Egyptian |
| the gods through the symbols and colors that were | | | | inspiration including bracelets, brooches, earrings, rings, |
| used. Jewelry was worn to insure a great earthly life | | | | and necklaces. One item unique to Ancient Egypt but |
| as well as a great after-life. | | | | has not transferred to modern times is the pectoral |
| Symbols used in jewelry making included the "Ankh" | | | | piece better known as the breastplate. It is |
| which stood for eternal life. The human eye | | | | ornamentation found on even the most ancient |
| represented the healing process. Other symbols | | | | mummies. |
| included the lotus flower and the falcon. One of the | | | | Another piece that has never really caught on in |
| most important symbols was the scarab beetle which | | | | modern times is the headdress. It served as an outer |
| represented rebirth and renewal. | | | | wig and had beads that hung down attached to a |
| Various materials were used for jewelry making. Gold, | | | | diadem. The beads resembled hair that moved as the |
| bronze covered with gold leaf, and an alloy | | | | wearer moved their head. |
| combination of gold, silver, and trace elements of | | | | Today many jewelers continue to cash in on the |
| copper called "electrum" were utilized. Gemstones | | | | desire for Egyptian inspired jewelry. They realize many |
| were used but more often than not polychrome glass | | | | people simply want to touch and connect with a time |
| was used to recreate gemstones since the glass was | | | | in history that is long gone. What better way to do that |
| easier to carve and fashion into various pieces. | | | | than to wear history? |