Uses and impact on society

Jewellery has been made to adorn and look beautiful, nearly every body part, from hairpins to toe rings and many more types of jewellery. While high-quality jewellery is made with gemstones and precious metals, such as silver or gold, there is also a growing demand for art jewellery where design and creativity is prized above material value.

In addition, there is the less costly costume jewellery, made from lower value materials and mass-produced which can be easily available for middle class. Other variations include wire sculpture (wrap) jewellery, using anything from base metal wire with rock tumbled stone to precious metals and precious gemstones.

Jewellery can be used and is used for a number of reasons:

* Currency, wealth display and storage, which increases the symbol in society.
* It also has Functional use (such as clasps, pins and buckles)
* Symbolism (to show membership or status).
* Protection (in the form of amulets and magical wards), and is used by major population in low and village areas.
* Artistic display.

Jewellery can also be symbolic of group membership, as in the case of the Christian crucifix or Jewish Star of David, or of status, as in the case of chains of office, or the Western practice of married people wearing a wedding ring.

Wearing of amulets and devotional medals to provide protection or ward off evil is common in some cultures; these may take the form of symbols, stones, plants, animals, body parts etc.

Although artistic display has clearly been a function of jewellery from the very beginning, It was only in the late 19th century, that art began to take primacy over function and wealth. This trend has continued into modern times.