Ancient Greek Jewelry: History of Earrings

Greek Jewelry contains pure gold and gemstones such as garnet, agate, emeralds, and pearls. Hellenistic jewelry includes bangles, bracelets, earrings, rings, pendants and armbands. Handcrafted earrings from Ancient Greece. Craft your own project at home. Get inspired start a project by mimicking earrings from historical times. Teach yourself how to make antiquity jewelry by wire wrapping using gold and silver plated wire.  Why not give it a try?

Gold Earrings of Nike, Greek Goddess of Victory.  

225-175 B.C.

  

Gold and Garnet Dangling Earrings

2nd - 3rd Century B.C.

Large Dangling Gold Earrings with Discs

300 B.C.

Hellenistic Period

 

 

 

Gold Earrings

100 - 50 B.C.

  

          Gold and Garnet Earrings 

4th Century B.C.

 

                   Gold Earrings with Discs                              

                   3rd - 4th Century B.C. 

Pair of Gold Earrings

3rd - 4th Century B.C.

For More Information:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Wikimedia Commons

Ancient Roman Jewelry and Earrings

Jewelry and Earrings from Ancient Rome and the Roman Empire. Both men and women wore handmade jewelry pieces including bracelets, earrings, rings, collars and necklaces. Romans wore gemstone pendants and pearls that  wire wrapped around gold. 

Gold Earring with Pearl

2nd-3rd Century AD

Earrings with Agate Pendant

3rd Century AD

Garnet Earrings

1st Century AD

Gold and Variscite Earring, 2nd Century 
 AD

 

 

 

Garnet Earrings,

 1st -3rd Century AD  

Gold Loop Earrings

2nd-3rd Century

 

Gold and Garnet Earrings

 1st -3rd Century AD

Ancient History of Earrings and Jewelry Facts

• Earrings have been around since 2000 - 3000 B.C.  
• 1st Archaeological evidence of earrings dates back to Iraq, from the Persian Empire    
• Popular among Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Assyrians   
• Two specific types of earrings worn: Pendants and Hoops  
• Symbolized wealth, honor, social or class status and personal/political identity.   
• Pendants with gemstones were commonly worn during the Roman Empire   
• Earrings were usually worn by men in ancient times

 

 

Greece - Gold Earrings

 1-2nd Century B.C.

Greece - Gold Earrings

16th century B.C.

Roman - Amethyst Gemstone Pendant

212 AD

 

Syria - Gold Earrings

11th century

 

Iran - Gold Wire Earrings 11-12th century

Further Resources:

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jewellery - Wikipedia

DIY Jewelry Making: Wire Wrapping Rings

One of the most difficult things to do with jewelry is learning how to wrap wire. Before you begin, you want to ask yourself, 'what do I want to make?' Are you interested in wrapping wire to make rings, pendants, charms, earrings, or bracelets? This will help narrow it down. Once you decide, then you can begin to gather supplies and tools. If you decide to make rings, it's easier if you wrap the wire around small objects that you can find in your home. This includes liter bottle caps, wine corks, toilet paper rolls, or any type of small round objects.

What Do I Need? Basic Jewelry Supplies and Tools for Wire Wrapping:

1. Round wire (sizes 16, 18 or 20-gauge)
2. Beads (optional) sized between 6-10mm
3. Round or Chain Nose Pliers
4. Wire Cutters
5. Round small objects or 'ring mandrel' - any object that you can wrap the wire around to make it into a ring.

 

Tutorials on Wire Wrapping Rings:

• Wire Wrap Beaded Rings
• Stone Rings
• Knitted Bow Ring
• 13 DIY Jewelry Crafts
• Instructables: Wire Wrapping Tutorial
• Buying Tools and Supplies for Wire Wrapping

Alien Jewelry: Earrings, Pendants, Charms

Jewelry, Aliens, and UFO's. Never thought those words could be connected? Well we found a niche online made up of a small group of jewelry artisans who seem to love designing these beings. These artisans handcraft alien eyes, bodies, and UFO spaceships out of wire or polymer clay. There seems to be a market for it, especially on Etsy.com

Often when we think of 'alien' we picture green 'dudes,' however these artists present their jewelry as gray beings, or gold and brown. Do we really know the true skin color of alien beings? Or is there more than one? If humans have multiple skin colors, what do aliens have? 

Here's a list of Handmade Alien Earrings, Necklaces, Charms, Pendants:

1. Necklace: UFO Silver Pendant

2. Pendant: Alien Face Pendant for Necklace

3. Charms: Alien Body in Sterling Silver

4. Earrings: Blue and Silver UFO

 

6. Earrings: Black and Gold Alien Body Earrings 

5. Pendant and Charm: Silver Alien Head and Black Eyes 

 

 

 Do you know any Alien Artisan Designers?