The art of metal work arrived in Indonesia in the Bronze Age from Southern Chinese and Southeast Asian areas. Bronze drums, dated from as early as the fifth century BC, have been found throughout the archipelago, and some of them are believed to have been cast in Bali. Indeed, the most famous of these drums, the massive Moon of Pejeng, still rests in Bali on a temple pavilion in the village of Pejeng. The drums were cast in the lost wax style and in stone molds. Beads of glass, carnelian, shell, silver, gold and other metals have been found in Bronze age sites as well. The earliest metal jewelry was primarily copper with some gold, silver and “suwasa”, which is one part gold and two parts copper. Metal age graves reveal gold necklaces, hairpins, beads and rings. Initially, raw gold made its way to Indonesia from China and India but eventually gold was found in Sumatra, which became famous for its jewelry and dagger hilts.

By the time of the birth of Christ, the people of Sumatra and Java were practicing rice cultivation with irrigation and the use of the buffalo-drawn plow. The accumulation of wealth which ensued encouraged the refinement of many art forms, including jewelry. By AD 1,000 gold and silverwork in Java had reached a level of artistry as high as that of the bronze caster. The abundance of gold was documented by a Chinese trader who reported in 1225 that Javanese criminals, except for thieves and murderers, were not imprisoned or subjected to corporal punishment but fined in gold.

Read the rest of this entry »

Gold jewelry has been a favorite of consumers who wish to not only enjoy wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry but who also want to make an investment that will only accrue in value over the years. Gold accessories are always in style whether they are white or yellow metal and are always beautiful no matter the age of the piece. This metal is also very user friendly because it’s beauty is untarnished over the years and it is also hypoallergenic to almost everyone who wears jewelry made from gold. If you’re looking to add a piece of gold jewelry to your accessory collection, here are few tips to help you make a smart investment.

Tip #1 – Determine the purity of gold that you prefer to purchase. The metal can be found in various levels of purity determined by 24, 18k, 14k, 12k and 10k. The “k” means karats which refers to the amount of gold in jewelry. The higher the karat, the more pure gold is included in the metal structure of the accessory. Whereas a 10k piece has the lowest amount of gold, a 24k item is made from pure gold. The amount of pure gold within a piece is directly related to the cost factor. The more gold, the higher priced the item becomes but also the better investment since gold prices continue to hold steady or accrue over the years.

Read the rest of this entry »

Religious jewelry is often worn as an expression of religious faith and inner joy. The very word ‘jewelry’ comes from a French word called, ‘joiel’ which means ‘joy.’ Even though definitions of religious jewelry keep changing with time, its essential meaning remains pristine and has not faded away.

Initially, religious jewelry comprised rosaries and beaded bracelets. With change in lifestyle preferences, there are varieties to choose from such as pendants, bracelets, rings, pins and brooches. Gifting a piece of religious gold jewelry to a loved is also a trend that has grown considerably.

Read the rest of this entry »