The oldest known form of jewellery is 100,000 years old and made from shells. In the past jewellery has even been used as currency because of its valuable gemstones and metals. Indian jewelry was often traded for goods and became very much in demand by colonists. American Indian jewelry used natural stone that was native to a particular area but similar items to hold the beads together for making a unique piece of natural stone jewelry.There are pieces that have a purpose, a brooch is used to hold a woman's scarf or other clothing in place and there are many headpieces designed to decorate and hold a woman's hair in place. Although the first pieces of jewellery were made from all natural materials including animals' teeth and wood, these earlier pieces usually had a specific purpose. They were often used as a way to identify different groups of people, or tribes, for trading goods and services and as a show of wealth.
Jewellery has been used to decorate all different parts of the body and is still used for functional purposes as well like cuff links, hair pins and belt buckles. There is a high demand for decorative jewelry that is made from less valuable man made materials like plastic beads and gold or silver plated chains that can be easily produced. This type of jewellery is mainly used to compliment an outfit, make a statement and for religious purposes.
There is still a high demand for high quality pieces made from natural stones and minerals like diamonds and gold. These pieces are usually made with high quality gold or sterling silver and precious or semi precious stones. Because these stones are natural there will be no two that are exactly alike in clarity and color.
American Indian jewelry and the beadwork it is famous for was very advanced for its time. There was fine grinding of the natural stones like turquoise and coral and precisely fine carvings of wood and bone to make the beautiful jewelry that was so valuable to each tribe. Much of the fine stitching, porcupine quills and precious gems used to create these decorative and valuable pieces have been replaced with metal wires and glass beads making them easier to mass produce.