Did you know the earliest traces of jewelry dates back to around 3,000 to 400 BC?
A neat and recent trending piece of jewelry is Roman glass jewelry. The glass used in Roman glass jewelry is thousands of years old.
Are you considering adding Roman glass jewelry to your collection? We’ve got you covered!
Take a look at everything you need to know about this unique jewelry trend.
Table of Contents
When in Rome: Everything You Need to Know About Roman Glass Jewelry
Long gone are the days of having only silver and gold as the only jewelry options. Although they’re still the most popular materials used, more people are open to trying and wearing more unique pieces.
As such, ancient Roman glass jewelry is an extremely popular item at the moment.
Roman glass jewelry contrasts very well with clothing and it looks great and complements all ages. Everyone seems to be attracted to it and like it because of its beauty and purity. It can be paired with formal or casual attire and look great with either.
Roman glass jewelry is one of those jewelry items that’s passed down from generations to generations. It’s also considered to be one of the most romantic jewelry pieces gifted to a lady.
History of Roman Glass
Roman glass is made almost the same way as other types of glass but on a larger scale. Most of this glass dates back to the first century or even earlier. This makes the glass attractive to modern buyers.
Excavation site around Israel is where most Roman glass is. Most of it comes from Israel because of the sand abundance there. It made it the perfect area for glass production for the Roman empire.
The Israeli government owns most of the in-tact glass artifacts that remain. They’re displayed in museums or they’re also studied.
There are many Roman glass pieces in the world other than jewelry such as cups, bowls, plates, and dishes which usually sell for thousands of dollars. Fragments from Roman glass make up the jewelry pieces. Since it’s a substance that is 2,000 years old, it’s easier to find broken pieces than full pieces.
The broken pieces aren’t technically owned by the Israeli government. The government is more interested in the full pieces so they turn the broken pieces over to licensed antiquity dealers who then sell the broken pieces to jewelry makers.
The Significance of Roman Glass Jewelry
Glass is not a material that is usually associated with ancient societies like pottery and stone but it was very popular in the Roman empire. Roman glass was first discovered 2,000 years ago in the Middle East. The distinct bright aqua hues in the glass were caused by a natural phenomenon after being buried for so long.
In Roman times, glass was mainly used only by the establishment. When they invented glass blowing, glass became more available to the public to own.
In ancient times, glass was a fashionable item used often. This has made it possible for modern society to be able to use these pieces to enhance our own jewelry design.
Cleaning Roman Glass Jewelry
Keep in mind that Roman glass is a substance, therefore the glass itself shouldn’t be cleaned. There are things you can do to keep your jewelry piece in it’s best shape.
Most jewelers use the glass piece itself as the centerpiece of the jewelry which is the part you don’t want to clean. The part you can clean is the gold or silver around the glass piece.
The gold or silver part should be polished regularly and ideally with a special type of jewelry cleaning cloth. The goal is to keep the gold or silver from oxidizing. A microfiber cloth can work as well.
Don’t ever use any chemicals on your glass jewelry because it can destroy this precious stone. Keep in mind that it’s still glass and like any other glass it can break if you’re not careful while you handle it. Unfortunately, if a piece cracks or breaks it can’t really be fixed.
Roman glass shouldn’t come in contact with water. Make sure to remove your jewelry piece before swimming or bathing to not ruin it. When it’s exposed to water it can remove the encrustation and also deteriorate its natural glow.
Styles
Roman glass tends to be in a lot of religious jewelry because of its unique and ancient history. It’s used in crosses, menorahs, and messianic symbols.
The not-so-religious crowd has plenty of other styles to choose from. There are teardrop shapes, classic circle, heart shapes just to name a few different styles.
Several jewelry accessories use different styles and pieces. This includes necklaces, pendants, earrings, and rings.
Every single jewelry piece is hand-crafted and set in by an expert. No two pieces are identical because each piece of Roman glass is unique.
You can own a little piece of history and bring history to life by owning a Roman glass jewelry piece. You can shop online for your next jewelry piece to save some time and money.
Buying Your Next Piece of Jewelry
Thanks to the glass blowing discovery we now know Roman glass. Thanks to so many innovations including its beautiful glass jewelry, the Roman empire lives on. This glass has stood the test of time because of its unique look and its history.
Do you want to learn more about the different types of jewelry? Check out several other articles on our blog for different articles about jewelry pieces.