Jewelry Through the Ages

A few months ago, I received a new jewelry box.  The beautiful gift came with a chore - consolidate my smaller jewelry boxes and sort through my jewelry collection.  For those who don’t know me, I am a jewelry enthusiast.  I own a multitude of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, and I change them daily to coordinate with my outfits.  

Looking at my jewelry was like looking through a time capsule.  Of course there were the “regulars” - items I wear currently and are in constant rotation.  But, I also re-discovered mementos and keepsakes from my childhood.

I found my first “big girl” watch  - the black Timex that my dad purchased for me.  No longer did I wear a watch decorated with a character popular with children; this was the kind of watch big girls wear.  Along with the watch, came a lesson.  My watch was to be worn on my left wrist, even though I was right-handed.  It seemed odd to me, until my dad explained I would then be able to write and check the time simultaneously.

I found my “BF” pendant - the half I wore to declare my best friend status with my sister.  Despite our current tumultuous relationship, I still own it, and plan to always.

I found my “Magic Potion” necklaces - purchased back when I was a middle school student.  The necklace contains nothing more than colored water, but I always found it more fun to tell people it was a capsule filled with magic potion.

I found the bracelet my dad made for me - my dad, a former telephone man, used red and white wires to create a bracelet.  I don’t wear it anymore, but it’s tucked away and brings a smile to my face.

I found the silver bracelet given to me at the conclusion of my second year of teaching - my students’ parents had all contributed to purchase the bracelet for me.  It was a thoughtful gift from an exceptional group of students and parents - something that has never been replicated in the nine years since that event.

And I found my cameos.  There is a cameo with a blue background that my mom gave to me when I was in elementary school.  There are the cameos my grandma gave to me.  One is large and has a pin on the back so that it can be worn as a brooch, and it has a hook at the top enabling it to be worn as a pendant.  There’s a small one, also, that looks more worn, and I don’t know if my grandma wore it often, or who gave it to her.  The cameos are beautiful, but sadly had been hiding away in random jewelry boxes.  I think now that they’re more easily accessible in my new jewelry box, I’ll be wearing them more often.

I know jewelry falls into the category of “things.”  And they are.  But jewelry isn’t like a book, or a pair of shoes, or even a cell phone.  Jewelry isn’t easily replaced.  Most of my jewelry isn’t mass produced and can’t just be pulled off a shelf.  

And all my jewelry has a story behind it; my life’s story.