Throughout time, gold jewelry has been a status of wealth in abundance. But there is also a rich history behind it. The gold we mined today most likely came from asteroid impacts during the late heavy bombardment era, 4 billion years ago. Gold was first discovered as small yellow nuggets around the world, explaining why it has been prevalent in almost every culture worldwide.
Gold jewelry goes as far back as 4000 B.C., with our earliest evidence found in Europe. Gold was popular for jewelry because it can be melted down and reforged. It is malleable and if pure, will neither corrode nor tarnish. Egyptians and the Mesopotamian people were some of the first to utilize gold for its decorative purposes. Its high shine and durability made it ideal for rulers to wear.
Egyptians believe that color reflects aspects of personalities. Yellow and gold were associated with the sun and, therefore, made gold jewelry a show of status for the pharaoh and his priests. In fact, when Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb was found, the weight of gold inside amounted to nine tons. Similarly, in ancient Rome, only senators could lawfully wear gold rings, while free citizens could only wear silver. Gold jewelry has contributed to our modern knowledge of history, telling stories of countries and cultures.
No matter the color, gold jewelry has played a massive part in forming cultures and social systems for thousands of years, making every piece of gold jewelry a small part of history. If you're interested in learning more about why gold should be a part of your portfolio, call the number on your screen or click the link below. Check out the Did you Know playlist on our YouTube page to see more interesting videos about gold.
