By Carole Fradette
Israel News Agency

Tel Aviv ----- July 14, 2008 ....... Out of all the creatures in the animal kingdom, only humans seek to adorn themselves. As far back in the past as primitive man, jewelry took on this role in a variety of forms. Small objects were of primary importance, with some examples being found in the early Neolithic strata of the caverns in mas d’avil. It was here that many pierces stags’ teeth were discovered, often still in the shape of a necklace with its holding twine long since disintegrated. Jewelry objects have recently been found in pre-historic Africa that date back about 75,000 years. And one other fact remains unchanged.
If the jewelry was precious then so was the presentation of it. Gold boxes and leather, cotton and silk pouches were created to protect the jewelry and to present it with elegance and style. Today, not much has changed.

"I started my jewelry packaging business 21 years ago because each time I went to buy a gift from a jewelry shop, the only packaging I found was unattractive and made of cheap plastic so I decided to change the world and sell better packaging," says Robert Yedid, General Manager of Exclusive Jewelry Packaging.

"When I started the jewelry packaging business, decent packaging was very expensive so I designed a new line of packaging which had a European chic at very affordable prices."

Yedid states that good jewerly demands excellent packaging.

"One can see throughout the centuries and from culture to culture, the materials considered rare and beautiful have ranged from shells, bones, pebbles, tusks, claws, and wood to so-called precious metals, precious and semiprecious stones, pearls, corals, enamels, vitreous pastes, and ceramics. They might fashion a brooch out of steel or plastic rather than gold or platinum. In addition to its decorative function, during much of its history, jewelry has also been worn as a sign of social rank."

One can see celebrities as Adrian Grenier, Andy Milonakis, Angelina Jolie, Anna Kournikova, Anna Nicole Smith, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ashlee Simpson, Ashton Kutcher, Avril Lavigne, Ben Affleck, Beyonce' Knowles, Bill Clinton and Brad Pitt offering diamond rings and gold neck chains to their partners.

Britney Spears, Brody Jenner, Bruce Willis, Cacee Cobb, Cameron Diaz, Carmen Electra, Charlie Sheen, Charlize Theron, Cheryl Burke, Christian Slater, Christina Aguilera, Colin Farrell, Courteney Cox, Courtney Love, David Beckham, David Hasselhoff, David Spade, Demi Moore, Denise Richards, Eddie Murphy, Elliot Mintz, Enrique Iglesias and Eva Longoria have all been known for sporting off their best and most precious jewels with the finest jewelry packaging.

And Felicity Huffman, Fergie, George Clooney, Gerard Butler, Guy Ritchie, Gwen Stefani, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Hayden Panettiere, Haylie and Hilary Duff, Heath Ledger, Heather Locklear, Heidi Klum, Hilary Swank, Hugh Grant, Hugh Hefner, Hulk Hogan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx, Jared Leto, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Alba, Jessica Simpson, Johnny Knoxville, Julia Roberts, Justin Timberlake, Kate Beckinsale, Kathy Hilton, Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Federline, Kiefer Sutherland, Kim Kardashian, Kirsten Dunst, Lance Bass, Lauren Conrad, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lindsay Lohan have been more than generous to their husbands, wives, girlfriends and boyfriends.

Madonna, Marc Anthony, Mariah Carey, Mary Carey, Mary-Kate Olsen, Matt Damon, Matthew McConaughey, Mickey Rourke, Mischa Barton, Nick Cannon, Nick Lachey, Nicky Hilton, Nicole Kidman, Nicole Richie, Nicollette Sheridan, Oprah Winfrey, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul, Penelope Cruz, Pink, Quentin Tarantino, Robbie Williams, Robert Downey Jr., Russell Crowe, Salma Hayek, Seal, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shakira, Shannen Doherty, Sharon Stone, Sienna Miller, Simon Cowell, Snoop Dogg, Tara Reid, The Shirly Brener Chronicles, Tom Cruise, Tommy Lee, Tori Spelling, Tyra Banks, Uma Thurman, Victoria Beckham, Vince Vaughn, Whitney Houston have all made sure that the media has photographed their latest jewelry.

"The first materials used to make objects for personal adornment were taken from the animal and vegetable world," says Yedid. "A great variety of shells and pieces of shell were used during the prehistoric age and are still used in certain island and coastal cultures to make necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and headdresses. In the inland regions the first materials used for personal adornment came from mammoths’ tusks, the horns of reindeer and other animals, and, later on, amber and lignite.

Of gold’s properties, when it was first discovered (probably in Mesopotamia before 3000 bc), it was the metal’s malleability that was a new phenomenon: only beeswax, when heated to a certain temperature, could be compared to it. Gold’s molecules move and change position in accordance with the stresses to which it is submitted, so that when it is beaten it gains in surface area what it loses in thickness. In modern jewelry, gold can take on a variety of hues when it is alloyed with other metals: water green, white, gray, red, and blue.

After gold, silver is the metal most widely used in jewelry and the most malleable. Although known during the Copper Age, silver made only rare appearances in jewelry before the classical age seen in Israel, Greece, Rome and China.

"In general, silver was, and still is, used in jewelry for economic reasons or to obtain chromatic effects," says Yedid. It was often used in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, however, as support in settings for diamonds and other transparent precious stones, in order to encourage the reflection of light.

Another rare metal, whose use in jewelry is fairly recent, is platinum. From the 19th century onward this metal was used ever more frequently in jewelry because of its white brilliance and malleability, as well as its resistance to acids and its high melting point.

Modern jewelry, such as that designed by early 20th-century artists, introduced non precious metals such as steel.

Closely related to the human need for ornamentation was the use of jewelry as amulets endowed with magical powers. For a true understanding of the growth and history of the importance of jewelry and precious stones, one has to be aware of the indelible belief that precious stones could affect the fortunes of the wearer.

Jewelry was made with certain convictions in mind, to meld into, conform to and strengthen beliefs. This was particularly true when religions began to form an important sociological bond.

"Early in its inception, jewelry was associated with religious rites, says Yedid. "Gold and jewels were used as gifts for the maintenance of worship in many religions such as Jewish, Christian and Islam. In accordance with this began the presumption that benefits could be derived from their wear and soon began the development of a complex network of fictitious powers being attributed to them. Curiously, many of these legends surrounding the benefits of certain stones were generally held all over the world. Gold and certain gems common to many parts of the globe were believed to yield similar virtues."

Jewelers as artists are evident throughout history. The art has been practiced in almost every condition in which civilizations have existed. It is most plausible that the metal worker, with an advance in knowledge, became the jeweler. As the more malleable metals were wrought into rings, bracelets, and armlets, it is conceivable that the need to posses small stones for the charm they retained made the metalworker turn to setting these stones in his or her metal ornaments. Although the methods were primitive, the fastening of stones became an integral part of the craft.

The stones of ancients, although considered "precious" to their owners, are not in the "precious stone" category of modern times.

In jewelry and jewelry packaging circles today and in the recent past, there are considered only four truly precious stones: the diamond, the ruby, the emerald and the blue sapphire. Among the earliest known treasures of the pharaohs, emeralds, rubies and sapphires were seldom used, while turquoise, jasper, lapis lazuli, carnelian and rock crystal played a substantial role. Since color was all important, diamonds were quite unknown. The use of gemstones and precious metals during this time were not limited, but spread lavishly about wherever ornament was desired.

Soon jewelry advanced from a simple ornamental or amulet stance to a more practical one. Jewels became used as a symbol of rank, wealth and social standing. When taking on this role, they became an investment of marketable value. This economic aspect of easily liquidating these possessions became an essential part of the politics of Europe when Francis I instituted the crown jewels as legal entity. For his successors these jewels were often used during the religious wars to guarantee foreign loans.

The three basic roles that jewelry has played, the ornament, the amulet and the symbol of wealth, have remained constant to the present time. This paper will attempt to trace these developments, particularly in the growth and affect on the western world. Although this is not a definitive work, it will give the reader a broad background on some of the more popular methods of creating, legends and both customs and whims of style that have been combined to give us a history of jewelry.

"Throughout the years, we supplied many famous customers including Dunhill Company, Swarovsky, QVC, RLM Studios, H- Stern, said Robert. "Georg Jensen, Tiffany, Ifanys, Swarovsky, Kiara, Lady Heart, Nanis, Emporio Armani, Annamaria Lammilli, Gucci, Cartier, Chopard, Tiffanys, Dior, Mont blanc, Bulgari, Carrera, Michel Perchin, Avnemars, Piguet, Faberge, Cran D'Archie, Rche,De Grisogono, Michael Anthony, Rebecca Taylor, Cybthia, Rowley, Jill Stuart, Buberry, Van Cleef and Arpels and Frances Klein all know of our quality jewelry packaging. We even supply special jewelry packaging for gifts given by the Queen of England.

"Our articles include pouches, rolls, jewelry organizers, made of Italian Suede, leather, Nabuka, and any customized articles that are made by our customers," says Yedid.

Carmel Jewelry Packaging offers online ordering and free delivery of jewelry displays, jewelry gift bags, jewelry boxes, jewelry pouches, organza pouches, and jewelry packaging supplies. Carmel Packaging complete wholesale catalog is online offering jewelry gift boxes, jewelry boxes, jewelry supplies, bubble packaging, retail store supplies, paper bags and many more products available to retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers and the public from New York, Miami, Hollywood, Los Angles and London to Paris, Moscow, Stockholm, Geneva, Vienna, Luxembourg, Beverly Hills, Rome and Tokyo.

Carmel Jewelry Packaging has thousands of elegant jewelry items in stock and available for immediate delivery. One can browse Carmel Jewelry Packaging vast and diverse Internet ecommerce selection site of gift boxes, jewelry boxes, jewelry supplies, jewelry cases, plastic bags and shrink wrap at wholesale prices. Carmel Jewelry Packaging offers free shipping on all orders in the United States and all of Canada.

"Carmel Jewelry Packaging is dedicated to the satisfaction of jewelry merchants and consumers alike by offering quality wholesale jewelry packaging," says Robert Yedid. "Carmel Jewelry Packaging has innovative jewelry packaging products to enhance every jewelry purchase in an elegant way. Wholesale or retail jewelry packaging, our goals are to provide the public with beautiful jewelry packaging products of great quality and endearing value. At Carmel Packaging our knowledgeable jewelry sales representatives provide 24/7 service quality deserve as well as presenting our current and creative display of superior jewelry packaging."

The above news content was edited and SEO optimized in Israel for the Internet by the Leyden Communications Group.

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