Throughout history, jewelry styles have changed according to the trends and tastes of each era. Some of the most notable periods of jewelry history are:

• The Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries): Jewelry was mainly worn by the nobility and the clergy as a sign of wealth and authority. The most common materials were gold, silver, pearls, and precious stones. The designs were influenced by Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque art styles
• The Renaissance (14th-17th centuries): Jewelry became more accessible and popular among the upper and middle classes. The most common materials were gold, enamel, pearls, coral, and glass. The designs were inspired by classical antiquity, nature, and humanism.
• The Baroque (17th-18th centuries): Jewelry was lavish and extravagant as a reflection of the opulence and power of the aristocracy. The most common materials were gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires. The designs were characterized by asymmetry, curves, and ornate details.
• The Rococo (18th century): Jewelry was delicate and playful as a contrast to the formality and rigidity of the Baroque period. The most common materials were gold, silver,
  paste (glass imitation gems), pearls, and cameos. The designs were influenced by Chinese art, pastoral scenes, and flowers.
• The Neoclassical (late 18th-early 19th centuries): Jewelry was simple and elegant as a reaction to the excesses of the Rococo period. The most common materials were gold,
  silver, carnelian, agate, and cameos. The designs were based on ancient Greek and Roman motifs, such as laurel wreaths, medallions, and urns.
• The Romantic (early-mid 19th centuries): Jewelry was sentimental and expressive as a reflection of the romantic movement in literature and art. The most common materials were gold, silver, turquoise, coral, and hair. The designs were often related to love, death, and nature, such as hearts, locks, skulls, and birds.
• The Victorian (mid-late 19th centuries): Jewelry was diverse and eclectic as a result of the industrial revolution and the expansion of the British Empire. The most common materials were gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, and jet. The designs varied from simple and modest to ornate and exotic, depending on the occasion and the mood of the wearer.
• The Art Nouveau (late 19th-early 20th centuries): Jewelry was artistic and innovative as a manifestation of the art nouveau movement that rejected traditional styles and embraced modernity. The most common materials were gold, silver, enamel, opal, and moonstone. The designs were inspired by organic forms, such as flowers, insects, and women’s curves.
• The Edwardian (early 20th century): Jewelry was refined and elegant as a reflection of the sophistication and luxury of the Edwardian era. The most common materials were platinum, diamonds, pearls, and lace. The designs were characterized by delicacy, lightness, and filigree work.
• The Art Deco (1920s-1930s): Jewelry was geometric and glamorous as a representation of the art deco movement that celebrated modernity and progress. The most common materials were platinum, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. The designs were influenced by cubism, futurism, and exotic cultures, such as Egypt, China, and Africa.
• The Retro (1930s-1950s): Jewelry was bold and colorful as a contrast to the austerity and gloom of the World War II era. The most common materials were gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, aquamarines, and citrines. The designs were inspired by Hollywood glamour, military motifs, and floral patterns.
• The Modern (1950s-present): Jewelry is diverse and dynamic as a reflection of the changes and challenges of the contemporary world. The most common materials are gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, pearls, and gemstones. The designs are influenced by art movements, social movements, and personal preferences.