Jewellery just seems to be one of those things we take for granted. We might wear it to look good, receive it as an heirloom, to complement an outfit or simply to show off our wealth. But where did the idea of jewellery originally come from to make it into such a huge part of the fashion industry?

The first known jewellery was discovered in Kenya, and is thought to date back to around 75,000 years ago. It was made from ostrich egg shells and is thought to have been used for ceremonial purposes. Other discoveries of ancient jewellery from around this period were made from bone, stone, berries or even teeth, and usually connected together using animal sinew.

Perhaps the first use of jewellery in the sense that we know it today; as a decorative adornment, was found to be work by ancient Egyptians, and was usually made from gold in combination with precious stones and coloured glass. The colours each had their own significance, for example, green was seen to symbolise fertility.

Subsequently, jewellery was worn in a number of ancient societies such as Mesopotamia, Persia and Ancient Turkey, Rome and Greece. The use was almost always for the purposes of opulence – to openly display the wealth of the owner – or for ceremonial purposes in ancient traditions. However, some so called jewellery has its origins in practical use, such as brooches or buckles.

As jewellery making skills in Post-Roman Europe continued to develop, more complex designs were produced, as seen in the objects found in the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk.

In the late 18th century, the romantic element of jewellery began to rear its head in the west, with the industrial revolution contributing to cheaper alloys and stone substitutes being produced. This meant that jewellery was opened up to the middle classes and not just the very rich, very small sector of society which had traditionally been able to afford to wear it.

As in all aspects of life, these middle class citizens aspired to be like the upper echelons of society, and the wearing of this cheaper jewellery was another way they could do this in the 19th century, in addition to other changes like cheaper cars and later on, electrical appliances.

Now, the function of jewellery is almost always for decorative purposes, perhaps with the exception of religious jewellery and wedding rings. There are thousands of brands on the market, most of them producing inexpensive designs, made as costume jewellery rather than for the purposes of conspicuous consumption on most occasions.

One example of this is Lovelinks, the most common style of which is Lovelinks bracelets. They are designed to be a very simple bracelet which the owner can add ‘charms’ to over time. This is a great example of modern innovation in jewellery, and lends itself to more purchases in the future from loved ones. This makes it commercially successful whilst retaining the emotional attachment often associated with the giving of jewellery in modern society.