| Elizabeth I reigned as Queen of England from 1558 to | | | | methods in this era, gemstone cutting technology and |
| 1603, an era that brought with it much advancement in | | | | expertise was quite limited in comparison to the |
| the Western world. Fashion is no exception, and the | | | | complex, multi-faceted gemstone cuts common today. |
| Queen’s own love for style contributed to many | | | | Another piece of jewelry common to both Elizabethan |
| changes in fashion trends of the time. Jewelry of the | | | | era and today is the ring. Similar to modern day |
| Elizabethan era reflected in many ways the jewelry of | | | | practice, rings were worn to symbolize marriage, and |
| today, though the most valuable metals and | | | | were often crafted of gold and engraved with a |
| gemstones were mostly limited to the upper class or | | | | message. Though rings were worn as a symbol of |
| those in a position of nobility. | | | | marriage, they were not typically worn by men, and |
| Necklaces were commonly worn by women of the | | | | even wedding rings were mostly limited to the upper |
| Elizabethan age, who often wore multiple necklaces at | | | | class. Rings were sometimes worn on both the first |
| the same time. The carcanet, a wide, collar-like | | | | and the second joint of the finger, not just the first as |
| necklace crafted from fine metal and jewels and often | | | | rings are most commonly seen today, and it would not |
| worn along with other necklaces is a piece | | | | be uncommon for every finger to be adorned with a |
| characteristic of the era. Gold pendants were a | | | | ring except the middle. |
| common accessory for women later in the era, | | | | Earrings experienced some popularity in the later part |
| succeeding the popularity of brooches. Pearls, gold, | | | | of the Elizabethan era. Women would have both ears |
| silver, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and other | | | | pierced, while men would have only one. Earrings were |
| precious metals and gemstones were incorporated | | | | typically a continuous hoop, possibly holding a pendant, |
| into beautiful necklaces and other pieces of jewelry | | | | as the modern day post style and hook style had yet |
| worn by the upper class. Though gemstones were | | | | to be invented. |
| fashioned into different shapes for jewelry using basic | | | | |