Jewelry

The word jewelry--which originated centuries ago in the Latin jocale, which means 'toy' or 'plaything'--tends to represent different things to different people. For some, jewelry is simply anything you put on to look nice: a necklace for example, or a crucifix, or even a watch. For others, however, the term is a little more exclusive, incorporating only those pieces of the highest cut and quality. Common types of jewelry include necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings. Although it is mostly associated with women, jewelry can also be worn by men. It also does not necessarily incorporate some sort of stone, or jewel--a plain golden bracelet, for example, though otherwise unadorned, would certainly be considered jewelry by most people.Sometimes, however, jewelry is used not just to ornament, but to represent. Good examples of this are the many pieces of religious jewelry worn the world over. The most common type of religious jewelry is the crucifix, which represents Jesus Christ on the cross. Many crucifixes are made out of simple metals or even wood--some, on the other hand, are elaborately ornamented, and obviously include certain ornamental properties, as well as their basic symbolic function. Another type of jewelry to consider is body, or pierced, jewelry. This jewelry is not worn on the body--at least not in a traditional sense. Instead, it is inserted in or through various different areas, such as the ear, tongue, navel or nipple. For some, this type of jewelry is crude and offensive. For others, however, it is a legitimate statement of personal style.