| Evolution of the Jewelry Trade The jewelry trade | | | | manufacturing plants. Jewelry became more available |
| had its humble beginning in the days of the caveman. | | | | and more affordable. New York City is still the |
| Today it is a massive and flourishing industry. Jewelry | | | | headquarters in the United States for the leading |
| is worn with everything from jeans and sneakers to | | | | designers and artisans. During the mid 1900s jewelry |
| elegant evening wear. How it all began is quite an | | | | artists began designing and creating their own specials |
| interesting story. Earliest forms of jewelry were | | | | lines of jewelry. These are sold in up-scale stores, |
| worn by cavemen. Their jewelry was crudely | | | | boutiques or galleries. Today, jewelry is available in |
| fashioned of sea shells as well as animal teeth, claws | | | | specialty jewelry stores, department stores, mall |
| or bones. Graves of prehistoric people have revealed | | | | kiosks, craft shows, etc. The Internet and television |
| beaded jewelry as well as jewelry made of ivory, | | | | shopping channels also claim a large portion of jewelry |
| wood or metal. Studies of the ancient Egyptians | | | | sales. Many celebrities now have their own line of |
| revealed well-crafted jewelry. The Egyptians were | | | | jewelry. These are mostly sold on television or |
| probably the first to combine gemstones with gold or | | | | up-scale department stores. Usually the designs are |
| precious metals. The priests of Bible days wore | | | | high-fashion and elaborately crafted. Jewelry is worn |
| breastplates made with rows of diamonds, emeralds | | | | by men, women and children of all ages. It has |
| and other gemstones. Workers who made | | | | become increasingly popular. There is always joy in |
| implements or weapons for battle became the first | | | | giving jewelry to mark major occasions such as |
| jewelry craftsmen. As they worked with metals to | | | | engagements, weddings, birth of a child, |
| make the implements of war, they discovered the | | | | anniversaries, etc. Jewelry will be around for eternity. |
| fine art of using the metals to create precious | | | | When shopping for gold and diamonds, the name to |
| jewelry. The jewelry trade came to American with | | | | remember is Norma's has many beautiful jewelry |
| the first settlers. An artisan could repair a broken | | | | items at 40% to 60% less than the Manufacturer's |
| farm implement, a wagon wheel or fashion a wedding | | | | Suggested Retail Price every day. If you're shopping |
| ring. New York City became the leader of the | | | | for earrings, necklace, bracelets, or diamonds rings, |
| precious metal industry in the 1890s with the first | | | | be sure to see the 100's of choices at Norma's. |
| jewelry store opening at the beginning of the 19th | | | | There's no need to wait for a sale or fight the Mall |
| century. The 20th century ushered in machines which | | | | traffic. Norma welcomes you and every order will |
| created jewelry and mass production began in | | | | receive her personally attention. |