History of gold

A glance at the history of gold will give you some idea of why people of just about every culture, every era, and every nation have fought, loved, and battled over gold. Not much has changed since ancient times. Gold is still a symbol of opulence, wealth, and well-being.

The use of gold can be dated to prehistoric times. Naturally beautiful, prehistoric man probably recognized it as something of value immediately and most likely found it in riverbeds and streams as he stopped to quench his thirst. Eventually, gold was used for ornamentation and eventually connected to the god of the sun. This religious connection led to the use of gold in many ceremonies and rituals.

Though gold was revered in ancient civilizations such as the ancient Egyptians and the Roman Empire, it may be most strongly related to the Incas. One of their most important temples, the Temple of the Sun, was completely lined in gold. When the Spanish conquered the Incas, they stripped all of their temples of the precious metal.

Through the centuries gold remained one of the most sought-after commodities in the world. It sparked not only feuds and wars, but also exploration and adventure. New territories were discovered in search of it. Simply think back on the infamous voyage of Christopher Columbus, or a little more recently, the California Gold Rush in the 1840s.

Because gold has been the center of attention for so long, there are many different uses for it. When you think of gold, however, you probably think of jewelry and not much more. In order to make gold jewelry, the precious metal, which is quite soft, must be mixed with other metals to make it suitable for daily use. The type of metal used will reduce the gold’s purity, but is necessary to prevent it from breaking or bending.

Over the years, jewelry makers have learned that combining different types of metals with gold will give each piece a unique look and feel. For example, when copper is added to the mix, the gold will become reddish in color. This is prevalent in antique Russian pieces that have a rose tone. White gold is achieved by adding a bit of palladium, nickel, or a combination of both to pure yellow gold.

Regardless of the color, purity, or design, there is no question that gold jewelry is here to stay. Gold jewelry can be as stunning and ornamental as can be or as simple as a plain gold band. One thing is undeniable, gold jewelry design has evolved over the years but the love of it has remained constant and the story will continue on from its prevalence in prehistoric times through its modern and future uses.