My father quietly said "Hush, Mom shouldn't hear us." We riffled through the wrapping papers only to carefully wrap it around a tiny little box containing a carefully packed long metal string. Their anniversary was on Sunday, and my dad had brought a Swarovski necklace for my mom. He wanted to neatly wrap it in a colorful sheet of paper, so he asked me for my help. We both sneaked into our store room - place were all extra food items, paperwork, and miscellaneous housing materials were kept - with my mom in the kitchen (right opposite the store room). Timing sucked, but we managed to get the wrapping paper, hurried to my room, and shut the door. It was almost dinner time, and we knew that my mom would come to the room to call us. We quickly hid the wrapping paper and the gift, and managed to be at dinner table on time. Post dinner, my dad and I quietly wrapped the gift and waited until Sunday to surprise her. On Sunday, she realized what the two of us were up to 3 days ago. Anyhow, she was surprised and loved the necklace that my dad picked out for her.
As a romantic token, jewelry plays a significant role in any relationship. Considered to be one of the most valuable resources in the world, the demand and love for jewelry never seems to die by any woman in this world. Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, watches, studs, diamonds, gold, platinum, are all words for jewelry that can never be off any girl's mind. I had conducted a survey that asked 40 different women above the age of 18 about their views and opinions on jewelry and flowers as romantic elements. Clearly, a little more than 50% of them chose jewelry as their most romantic gift instead of flowers. This survey was important in understanding the significance of jewelry in any romantic relationship, whether it be marriage or even dating. As a non-jewelry person, I was intrigued by the clear majority towards jewelry, and I understood the intention behind it. Reading their other responses, I noticed that there was a tendency amongst women wanting the permanence of jewelry in their lives, rather than the tracience of flowers. Permanence of jewelry remains as a symbol or token of "HE gave that to me," or more so as a constant reminder of their significant others. When compared with flowers, jewelry was the preferred symbol of affection but only in moderate amounts since too much of any would be overwhelming. If a woman received only flowers, she would have wanted something more than that, and if a woman received only jewelry, she would feel like a decoration. The two extremes reflect the balance required in love and romantic relationships to strengthen bonds, closeness, and value. This survey influential in revealing how different women perceived romance and expression of romance differently but caught themselves in the middle when asked to choose between the everlasting pieces of metal (too materialistic) and the dying nature of natural plants, flowers (too simple).
Whenever I think about jewelry, or when I am forced to think about jewelry, I am never convinced or motivated to look at them in a positive light. I can tell you the many reasons why I detest jewelry from a strong personal opinion which may be the many and only reasons why women love jewelry. Although I was only about two years old or even younger perhaps when my parents took me to get my ears pierced – with a gun, of course. On the contrary, growing up, I loved wearing jewelry – especially those metallic long dangling earrings and fancy bracelets that just drew attention to you. This was my “fad” or “sense of fashion” until about 10 years old. Then, suddenly, one day, I grew out of it. Simply. Stopped. Wearing. Jewelry. Whenever someone asked me what they wanted to gift me for my birthday, I would always say, “I hate jewelry, so just gift me anything but that.” There is no particular reason why I couldn't ever like jewelry. I feel I just grew out of them. My mother and my grandmother often subtly indicated how I wasn't “being a girl” when I wouldn't wear jewelry. I would just laugh it off and pretend as if I didn't care. It wasn't a significant effect on my life but I feel that it could have had some subconscious influence on my decision around the ages of 15-16. Around that time, I started wearing jewelry only during parties, special events, functions, festivities and cultural-related events, and till-date I do this. On an everyday basis, I am a regular person with the most minimal jewelry, but at parties, I would be dawning some fancy jewelry on me.
On the contrary, I like jewelry on other women whether it be causal earrings, couple of bracelets, or just a necklace. My mother's jewelry collection is my favorite since I have always seen her choosing the best ornaments either for everyday wear, parties, functions or any other occasion. She has a really nice collection of different metals - yellow gold, white gold, crystals, rubies (and perhaps, even more!), which suits her lively and bright personality. As an everyday girl who loves wearing different shades of blue, black, and gray, I am such a contrast to my mother. It is only rare when one can find me in bright colors such as red, yellow, or pink. This is significant since one's clothing can be an important factor in mixing and matching jewelry. I also feel that with traditions and age, and societal connotations about women having to wear jewelry also strongly affects Generation X as opposed to the Millennials. Jewelry to me is something that I do not search for when I am getting ready everyday in the morning as I do for my face cream.
Generally, jewelry speaks a lot about one's personality: specifically socio-economic class and the general attribution to an occasion. For example, if someone is seen wearing diamonds, with a Calvin Klein gown, Banana Republic stole, and ALDO heels, it is natural for someone to assume that she is wearing that jewelry to not only add on to the glamorous outfits that she is wearing but also perhaps she has a formal event or a large party to attend. It would definitely be assumed that she is from a rich, upper-class household who can afford such fancy brands. It is interesting to note the human psyche and societal standards against a single ornament that speaks so much about a person's background, and satisfy their assumptions from creating such a context. Another factor that runs parallel along this is the dynamic nature of fashion trends and fads. Jewelry is no longer worn only around the neck or only in wrists. Belly button piercings, tongue piercings, nose rings, upper lobe piercings etc. are growing more popular that are shifting normative ideas about jewelry. Culturally and traditionally, these may not be appropriate, and could generate resentment amongst others, but they are revolutionary, and are changing the fashion scope. As masses of people acquire these new forms of wearing jewelry, the more likely it is for people to accept these as common, and not uncommon.
more specifically, jewelry has traditionally acquired a strong space and value in certain religions and cultures that makes it almost inseparable from them.
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