People who value Chinese style jewelry want to know why it is so different from what is found in the West. There are many and various kinds of jewelry to be carefully considered by any buyer. Some of the options in Chinese jewelry would include headdresses, necklaces, pectorals, coin pendants, bracelets, rings, seal rings, head jewelry, anklets, diadems, and even more. In the practice of making ancient Chinese jewelry gemstones were often included with Jade and Diamonds in order to create a truly beautiful piece to admire. The story of China's jewelry industry is quite compelling. Let us begin without any further delay!

The established practice of jewelry making in China began 5,000 years ago. This occurred during the Yangtze Delta's Middle Neolithic Yang-shao and Lungshanoid cultures. Chinese jewelry designs started to develop slowly over time. In fact, different and unusual design motifs were employed. These often had specific religious meaning. These were traditionally used in Buddhist ceremonies. The dragon and the phoenix were very popular motifs in the earliest examples of Chinese jewelry. These trends have remained constant to the present time. The dragon symbol is a special one for the Chinese. The dragon represents the powers of nature and the universe. This symbol is associated with wisdom and longevity. It is interesting that the "five-clawed" dragon was also a symbol of Chinese emperors. On the other hand, the symbol of the phoenix, or "fenghuang," was the symbol of the Chinese empress!

The earring was one of the common items of Chinese jewelry. It could be worn by either a man or a woman. It did not matter that both genders could wear this type of jewelry. In fact, earrings could be very complicated and also quite large in size. Early Chinese jewelry was fashioned by using silver as the dominant metal. In addition, modest amounts of gold and bronze were frequently included in the forming process. Without any doubt, one of the most prized material used in this kind of jewelry was jade. It came to be known popularly as "Chinese Imperial Jade." Human like attributes, such as beauty and toughness, came to be associated with Jade. The material jade was used as a talisman to protect the wearer of the jewelry. It also became a kind of "status symbol" which was believed to indicate the dignity, grace, and superior morality of the wearer.