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Over the centuries it came to be a sign of social or religious rank, and in Renaissance Italy, jewelry-making reached the status of a fine art. By the 19th century, industrialization brought jewelry within the reach of the middle class. Firms opened by such jewelers as Carl Fabergé and Louis Comfort Tiffany achieved great success by making fine jewelry for the wealthy.

In the United States, this period saw the founding in 1837 of Tiffany & Co. by Charles Lewis Tiffany. Tiffany's put the United States on the world map in terms of jewellery and gained fame creating dazzling commissions for people such as the wife of Abraham Lincoln. Later, it would gain popular notoriety as the setting of the film Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Even natural grasses lend themselves to a jeweler's creativity while art glass beads and pendants can be made from discarded bottles. Some artisans reclaim precious silver from photographic negatives. Colorful magazine pages can become tightly-rolled beads protected by a coat of varnish. Always creative, artists craft their bracelets out of innovative, eco-conscious materials. Objects designed for the adornment of the body are called jewelry.

In India, bangles or kangans showed a woman was married and are a part of the 16 adornments customarily worn by a Hindu bride. Traditional West African beads are a sign of cultural identity. Each one has a meaning and tells a story.Today, women's bracelets are still culturally significant. In India, jewelry often depicts religious symbols and meditative mantras. Balinese bracelets may also depict dragons, thought to be the protectors of the gods, or the Hindu Barong deity, also a protection symbol.

If you're looking for gifts, Kohl's has got you covered. Find fine jewelry to commemorate special occasions, from engagement rings and charm bracelets to men's designer watches and cuff links. Global artisans use all sorts of materials in their handcrafted jewelry for men. In the Andes, sterling silver, leather, and combinations of natural stones are frequently used. In Bali, silver, gold, bone, wood, brass, and stainless copper adorn handmade jewelry.

For platinum, gold, and silver jewellery, there are many techniques to create finishes. The most common are high-polish, satin/matte, brushed, and hammered. High-polished jewellery is the most common and gives the metal a highly reflective, shiny look. Satin, or matte jewlery finish reduces the shine and reflection of the jewellery, and this is commonly used to accentuate gemstones such as diamonds. Brushed finishes give the jewellery a textured look and are created by brushing a material against the metal, leaving "brush strokes".

Nuggets of turquoise convene on a handcrafted leather bracelet by Jes MaHarry. A hand-hammered quintet ring, with five 14kt gold-filled strands, encircles your finger in infinite style. Kyanite, moonstone and cultured pearl dangle dreamily amid Thai silver charms. Sterling silver chain; lobster clasp. Strands of espresso brown Italian leather hold a sparkling sea of kyanite beads bound by gray-blue pearls. Lined with Japanese glass cube beads and finished with a silver-plated magnetic clasp.

The Greeks took much of their designs from outer origins, such as Asia, when Alexander the Great conquered part of it. In earlier designs, other European influences can also be detected. When Roman rule came to Greece, no change in jewellery designs was detected. However, by 27 BC, Greek designs were heavily influenced by the Roman culture. That is not to say that indigenous design did not thrive.

Wherever you choose to don it, a handmade ring should be as unique as the man who wears it. Jean Prounis founded Prounis Jewelry in homage to her family ancestry and passion for beautiful objects. Her hand-wrought jewelry is made from recycled 22k gold and set with gemstones to create the distinctive Prounis aesthetic. Greek jewelry designer Ileana Makri has been making her fine jewelry for over 25 years, and designs with a consistent brand identity. Her Globetrotter collection consisting of beaded pieces with elements from her world travels sits alongside her elegant jewels worthy of a cocktail party. From Swarovski and Bea Bongiasca’s colorful creations to Cartier’s elevated classics, shop our favorite and some of the best jewelry brands below.