The Appeal of Animal Jewelry

 by: Pete McFraser

Animal jewelry has always been popular. Even in ancient Egypt, people wore jewelry fashioned after animals like the cat and the ibis. In modern times, you see animal jewelry captured in charm bracelets and necklaces. Why is animal jewelry still popular today? Here are a few reasons to consider when you think about how appealing animal jewelry can be.

1) Animals are nice to look at.

Who can ever get tired of watching birds fly or kittens play? Because animals are fun to look at in nature, jewelers use them in their work. People often go to nature for inspiration and then use it in their creations. Animals have a simple elegance to them that is always complementary to a nice outfit.

2) Animal designs don’t go out of style.

Fads and trends are just that; they are here today and gone soon after. Animal designs seem to withstand all of that because they don’t change. Over the course of human existence, animals have remained in about the same state as they were when we first saw them. Polka-dots, loops, zigzags, and starburst bracelets all go out of style at some point. Animals have a degree of permanency that allows for constant design inspiration.

3) The animal depicted in the jewelry represents the person wearing it.

My mother has a leopard lapel that she got from her mother as a birthday present. She and her family come from South Africa, so the leopard lapel reflects great significance to her roots. My mother likes to wear it on special occasions, to church, and just for fun because it reminds her of home.

Other people wear certain animal jewelry because it is a representation of them. Someone who wears a lot of dolphin jewelry might have an affinity for the ocean, freedom, playfulness, and intelligence. Someone else might like elephant jewelry because they are bold, strong, and majestic. Overall, animal jewelry can be a symbolic interpretation of the individual and an appealing display for others to observe.