Why Do We Wear Jewelry?

Jewelry is a great way to express yourself and to tie any outfit together, but why do we actually wear it? When did people begin to wear jewelry and why? If you have ever found yourself wondering this and want answers, we have them here for you. Read further to understand a little bit more about why we wear jewelry.

Pandora Brown Tripe Leather Friendship Bracelet

The first known jewelry pieces date back to around 75,000 years ago. The earliest pieces of jewelry were typically made out of animal hide, leather, or reeds and were decorated with items such as animal teeth, bones, feathers, shells, pebbles, and berries. Some of our pieces, such as our Pandora Brown Tripe Leather Friendship Bracelet, are inspired by these early pieces and use leather to create a simple look. The use of gold and gems in jewelry can be traced back to Egyptian and Mesopotamian cultures. Since then, adorning oneself with jewelry has been consistent across time, religions, cultures, class, and gender. A well-known theory to why people began to wear jewelry is to satisfy their higher needs.

You may be aware of the famous Maslow pyramid that displays our “Hierarchy of Needs.” What this pyramid conveys is several layers of human’s needs that have to be met in order for us to be completely happy or fulfilled. At the most basic level is our physiological needs, such as hunger and thirst. Next comes safety, then love and belonging, then esteem, and finally self-actualization.

Pandora Birthday Blooms Ring

The need for jewelry could be considered to fall somewhere among social needs and esteem needs. It can fit into the social category because of people’s needs to belong to a group, and it can fit into esteem because of people’s desire of recognition and status.

A way to identify with others through jewelry is the shared meaning we have created through it. For instance, with birthstones, someone wearing their particular stone representing their birth month may identify with someone else wearing the same stone. One birthstone item that we carry is the Pandora Birthday Blooms Ring.

Mawi Teardrop Crystal Earrings

Jewelry satisfies esteem needs by being an assertion of one’s wealth and status. It shows that lower needs, such as food and shelter have been met, so now higher needs can be addressed. Jewelry is a universal show of status because of its inherent value and natural beauty. We don’t possess anything like the natural splendor of a peacock, so instead, we use sparkly, colorful, and splendid stones and metals. For example, our Mawi Teardrop Crystal Earrings bring beauty and décor with eye-catching colors. Jewelry also implies things that would be impolite or crass to say, such as one’s status in society, or even their marital status, through the wedding band.


This is one of many theories why people began to wear jewelry and why we still wear it today. One thing that we do know for sure- jewelry is a timeless piece of beauty here to stay. To stay on top of current jewelry trends, view our edgy designer jewelry at our NorthPark Jewelry store!