Sep
From stunning Roman glass bracelets to elegant earrings and pendants, there’s a piece for every preference and style. Click here to explore the history of ancient Roman jewelry and gain insight into the statements they can convey.
Keyword(s): ancient Roman jewelry
Did you know that Romans would adorn themselves with amulets and other forms of jewelry to fend off evil spirits and curses? Quite fascinating, isn’t it? A far cry from how we accessorize today!
If you enjoyed that little nugget of history, you’re sure to be captivated by the rest of this blog post. Dive in to learn more about ancient Roman jewelry!
A Brief History
When describing ancient Roman jewelry, ‘intricate designs’ sums it up perfectly. The Romans employed a wide array of metals, colors, stones, and beads to create exceptionally beautiful pieces.
The variety in their jewelry was heavily influenced by the wealth of materials available to them, as well as their remarkable craftsmanship.
The primary sources for their metals and gems were the Mediterranean regions, along with exotic items imported from Persia and India.
Ancient Roman Jewelry for Men
It was not unusual for affluent men to wear silver rings, bracelets with collars, pendants, and torcs.
Men often wore rings engraved with gems, which served to imprint their rank or family crest into the wax seal of their letters. This gave rise to what we now call ‘signet rings‘.
You’ve probably heard of the famed Roman dictator, Titus Manlius. In 361 BC, he fought and killed a Gaul, subsequently taking and wearing his torc.
From then on, soldiers were awarded torcs as a recognition of bravery in battle.
Ancient Roman Jewelry for Women
Roman women typically curated extensive jewelry collections, often comprising sets. It was common for them to wear more jewelry than the men.
Women would often adorn themselves with all of the following items simultaneously:
- Multiple rings showcasing various metals and designs
- Earrings
- Bracelets
- Necklaces, often in a choker style
Even practical accessories like brooches were embellished with colorful stones and precious metals.
Women usually pierced their ears but typically wore only one set of earrings at a time.
Fun Fact: Jewelry was extremely important to women as it was generally considered their property.
They could manage their jewelry independently of their husband’s wealth, allowing them to buy, sell, or gift their pieces as they saw fit.
Did the Romans Make Jewelry Better?
You may notice that Roman jewelry shares similarities with Greek and Etruscan designs.
Initially, Roman jewelry was more conservative compared to other Mediterranean cultures existing at the same time.
However, as Roman territories expanded, the influx of resources and a shift to more luxurious lifestyles made their jewelry increasingly opulent.
Fun Facts About Ancient Roman Jewelry
The Romans had a strict social hierarchy, and jewelry was used to signify one’s social status.
Below, we delve deeper into the types of jewelry they wore and their significance:
Romans often sported large, eye-catching rings to denote their social standing. Here’s a quick overview of who wore what:
- Senators and Bureaucrats: wore gold rings with prominent gemstones, making their importance instantly recognizable.
- Plebeians (commoners): were generally restricted to iron rings. However, they could earn gold rings for acts of bravery in battle, which they were then allowed to wear.
Bracelets, usually made from gold and pearls, adorned both wrists and served purely decorative purposes. It was common for them to feature coiling snakes, fastened by golden pins.
Fun Fact: To the Romans, snakes symbolized immortality!
Typical Materials
Explore some of the materials used by the Romans in their jewelry:
At the dawn of Roman civilization, gold was rare and reserved for crafting currency, making its use in jewelry frowned upon.
As the empire expanded, so did their resources, eventually making gold fashionable in jewelry creation.
The Romans had a particular fondness for pearls!
Fun Fact: The infamous emperor Caligula adored pearls, even decorating his slippers with them and reportedly having a pearl necklace for his horse!
Typically, Romans wore pearls to grand events such as processions and parties, using them to complement ‘evening wear’ outfits.
The Romans dedicated significant effort to sourcing Baltic Amber, a stone greatly loved by their jewelers.
They established a route to transport amber from what is today known as Gdansk, Poland, to various empire towns.
Fun Fact: Not only was Baltic Amber considered beautiful, but it was also believed to have healing properties, adding to its popularity!
The Romans perfected advanced glassmaking techniques, capitalizing on the sand found in and around Israel to fuel the popularity of new sea-hued glass. Some of this glass was crafted into jewelry, and in modern times, this ancient glass has been excavated and set in sterling silver, offering a contemporary display of ancient Roman jewelry.
Did You Enjoy This Blog Post?
We hope you found this article on ancient Roman jewelry fascinating. If so, you’ll likely enjoy the other features on our ‘All That Glitters’ blog.
There we cover a variety of topics, from understanding what rose gold truly is to determining if your jewelry is made from genuine silver. Enjoy!
If you have any questions about this blog post or about jewelry in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you!
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