Although much of the focus in many of the magazines and fashion shows is on dazzling gems and sparkling diamonds, there is also a lot of emphasis on the beauty of the different metals themselves. Historically and today, there has been a large following of people who love the beauty of various metals, without the addition of gems, jewelry, and all those extras.
All metal jewelry is probably the historical basis for all types of jewelry. The early Greeks and Romans, Egyptians, and Asians used base metals to create beautiful, durable jewelry that still forms the basis for many of the styles that are now considered classics. This is seen in modern jewelry such as simple or elaborate band rings, bangle bracelets, chains, and even different styles of jewelry of all metals. Chandelier style earrings, many of which are still designed with all the metal features and pieces, are very similar to ancient earrings unearthed in archaeological excavations in different parts of the world. Early works of art and sculptures from the Egyptian, Roman and Greek civilizations clearly show the importance of jewelry in these early times and for these people, both as status symbols and as beautiful pieces.
Traditionally, the metals used in jewelry were silver and gold, generally because they were the easiest to extract and collect, plus they were very easy to work with. Note that early jewelers really had to do everything by hand without temperature controlled melting vats and other instruments and equipment that modern jewelers now take for granted. It is also important to remember that many different types of jewelry are made by pouring molten metals into molds which are then cooled and removed, leaving the jewelry piece in the rough for finishing, detailing, and polishing. As technology progressed, different metals such as platinum, palladium, titanium, tungsten carbide, and even the gold and white gold metal mixture were created and became more popular.
All-metal jewelry can be decorative, however, it is not just a smooth, bare surface. Many pieces of metal jewelry are elaborately crafted and shaped, leading to intricate patterns and designs, either by adding additional metals to the surface or detailing the surface to make it appear carved. A great example of this is the silver jewelry seen in both Bali and Indonesia, highly detailed and designed in woven-like patterns and filigree styles. Two-tone or even three-tone, all types of metal jewelry are very popular for both wedding bands, bracelets, pendants, watches and almost any other type of jewelry imaginable. There is a unique type of jewelry known as Black Hills Gold that is actually a style of jewelry that includes different colors ranging from yellow, green, and rose gold. Typical patterns found on traditional Black Hills gold pieces include grape leaves, creepers, and patterns found in nature. Only pieces made in the Black Hills of South Dakota can be traded as Black Hills gold.