To chart the history of African jewelry you have to go back to Namibia 27,000 years ago. In the cave paintings of Namibia you can see the awakening of the artistic man. It took quite a few years from then to about 15,000 years ago when an oval pendant in bone, a piece of antique jewelry, in Tunisia, indicated what was probably the birth of African jewelry.

The earliest materials used in African jewelry making were bones mainly of birds, nuts and seeds. It’s because of the very perishable nature of the materials used in antique jewelry that there is very little of it around as exhibits today.

To be able to choose the right kind of African jewelry you have to know a bit about the various area wise skills both in the crafting of jewelry and the prevailing materials technology in Africa in the early days.

Antique jewelry of Africa indicates that whereas West Africa evolved in brass jewelry, copper was used in most other places and gold in a few like the Akan people. Boat shaped ankle bracelets were used on the Ivory Coast by the Senufo tribe. The married Faluni women from Mali wore gold earrings still considered as works of art. The tribal people of Sudan especially the Nuer and Shilluk tribes and the Dinkya tribe of Kenya used ivory for their jewelry. Italian, Dutch and Czech glass beads were traded for African goods in the 14th till the 20th century. The ancient trade beads, as they were called, are simulated today.

If you visit web sites pertaining to African jewelry a feast for the eyes greets you. There are Fulumi hoop earrings used in Sudan area as daily wear. These are in sterling silver with gilding. There are Akuaba doll earrings signifying fertility still worn in Ghana by the Ashanti tribe. The original dolls were in blackened and polished wood. You can buy Masai Seed Bead bracelet, Kenyan Trade Bead jewelry, Ethiopian Bead necklace or the Glass and Brass necklace from Central Niger done in the Wodaabe style.

One of the unique features of Russian jewelry is that it combines elements of both the western and oriental worlds. When you combine the elegance and modernity of the West with the luxury and opulence of the East, the result is a seductive form of jewelry art. Jewelry from this part of the world has been known to be associated with folklore and legends. Ornaments have even been designed depicting religious icons and figures. Russia has a rich legacy in jewelry design and creation, which has been kept alive to this day through master craftsmanship.

Russia jewelry has distinctly unique and innovative designs. Another unique feature of this jewelry is the illustration of uncommon themes. Birds, regarded as symbols of love, protection, and permanence, are a favorite among buyers. Dove or goose-shaped pendants are extremely popular as well. Jewelry items depicting popular figures from Russian folklore, such as North Wind, are also much in demand. If you want something unusual, you can choose the intricately carved Matrushka dolls, gemstone-studded Easter eggs or jewelry with Byzantine filigree work.

You can purchase Russian antique earrings and bracelets set in amber or coated with enamel. These articles are not too expensive but carry enough quality to make powerful style statements. Some of the more unusual options are items made from papier-mâché, wood, lacquer, straw, bronze or leather.

So where is the best place to find Russian jewelry? You can find jewelry items from Russia in any major antique jewelry store. You can also buy these jewelry items online from a known antique jewelry website. The advantage of buying from an online store is the convenience it affords. You can run a search for a particular jewelry type on a search engine and the result page will take you to portals dealing with that jewelry form. The price of every item is displayed under the image of the product for the buyer’s convenience.

Or else, you can invest in antique jewelry from Russia itself—perhaps an heirloom handed down through generations or held by collectors. Of course, the older, rarer, and better the condition of the jewelry, the more it will cost.