Figure 1.--.

We have noted destinctive trends associated with jewlry in different countries. Identity braclets for boys were popular in America during the 1950s. Ear rings became the in thing among American boys in the 1990s. We also see them in Europe. A French reader tells us, "In France, it is traditional that the godmother provude a necklace chain with birth date engraved for the Baptism. In the past times babies had a gold pin on his bib." A British reader remembers regulations about jewelry at his schools. He writes, "I noted the Trutex schoolwear ad and was surprised to see one of th boys wearing a ring. It just reminded me that jewellry was banned in our school � even for girls and that included watches. It made me laugh to recall that one boy was showing off a watch his dad had bought him as a reward for passing the eleven plus and out teacher noticed and took it off him until going home time.We spent the rest of the day asking him the time.I notice that all of the boys in the picture on the main English personal experinces page have watches, so the policy must have different in different types of school. My mate Michael told me that his sisters were allowed to wear cruxifixes to their school but he was not allowed to wear a St Christopher that he'd been given at his Christening so at his school it was different for girls and boys. They gave the same reason as our school � that it was dangerous to wear them round the neck when playing.He was not allowed to wear it to play out either � only to mass on Sunday but he did keep it in his room and showed it to me.It was silver and he once considered selling it when we were going to run off together after some incident had got us into trouble but, of course, it all came to nothing."

America

The most common jewelry for American boys in the 19th century were rings and lockets. Identity bracelets were popular in the mid-20th centyry. We note American boys wearing rings in early Daguerreotypes. We notice an unidentified American boy wearing a plain ring (about 1930). We note younger boys wearing lockets in the 19th century. We notice one unidentified boy wearing both a ring and a locket (1885). Identity braclets for boys were popular in America during the 1950s. I'm not sure if these was a destinctly American trend. Ear rings became the in thing among American boys in the 1990s. We also see them in Europe.

England

A British reader remembers regulations about jewelry at his schools. He writes, "I noted the Trutex schoolwear ad and was surprised to see one of th boys wearing a ring. It just reminded me that jewellry was banned in our school � even for girls and that included watches. It made me laugh to recall that one boy was showing off a watch his dad had bought him as a reward for passing the 11-plus and out teacher noticed and took it off him until going home time.We spent the rest of the day asking him the time.I notice that all of the boys in the picture on the main English personal experinces page have watches, so the policy must have different in different types of school. My mate Michael told me that his sisters were allowed to wear cruxifixes to their school but he was not allowed to wear a St Christopher that he'd been given at his Christening so at his school it was different for girls and boys. They gave the same reason as our school � that it was dangerous to wear them round the neck when playing.He was not allowed to wear it to play out either � only to mass on Sunday but he did keep it in his room and showed it to me.It was silver and he once considered selling it when we were going to run off together after some incident had got us into trouble but, of course, it all came to nothing."

France

A French reader tells us, "In France, it is traditional that the godmother provude a necklace chain with birth date engraved for the Baptism. In the past times babies had a gold pin on his bib."

Germany

India

India is one of the great River Valley cradles of civilization. While we know little about the Indus Valley civilization. The adornment with jewelry is notable in all subsequent civilizations for which information is available. One source writes, "It is rare to find any woman in India who may not have ever loved to decorate herself with jewelry." The emphasis may have been on adorning women, but Indian male potentates were also among the most heavily adorned rulers. Indian is famed for its jem stones, especially rubies and diamomds, but we also see emeralds, pearls, and sapphires. India also produces some gold, but most of its gold is imported. We believe that no know rulers in history possessed such richs in precious metals and jem stones than the great Moguls (16th-17th centuries). But it is not just the ruling class that appreciated and wore jewlry. Jewelry was appreciated not only for its traditional value and beauty, but for the common people was a source of security in uncertain times before banks and other investments existed. And the quantity of jewelry owned by a woman was an expression of her and her husband's status. Jewelry was used to accentuate a woman's beauty. Dancers performed with exquisite sparkling Indian jewelry. The rtpes of jewelry is huge. There was essentially an an ornament for virtually every part of her body beginning with the hair, including the ears and nose, down to her toes. Indian jewlry has been traditional heavy, includuing voluminous gold pieces. The ordinary people turned to silver. More modern jewlry is lighterr, probably because as India becomes more porosperous, more people can aford gold, but not large heavy pieces. HBC of course is primarily concerned with children amd we see laces, neckaces, pendents, rings, waist bands, and bracelets (for both wrists, and ankles). Much of this jewelry for children is done in gold. India continues o be ine if the worls's impprtant markets for gold.

Italy

Created: November 12, 2000
Last updated: 12:33 AM 2/16/2022