Walk Like an (Ancient) Egyptian with Vintage Jewelry

Ancient Egypt Online offers a fascinating insight into the life and dress preferences of ancient Egyptians. Of particular interest, to us, is the section about jewelry. Most of us already knew about the practice of adorning the pharaoh with as much finery as possible. But did you also know that even the ordinary folks wore as much jewelry as they could afford?

If you would like to walk like an ancient Egyptian, look at some of our vintage jewelry pieces that might make it possible. Mind you; these pieces do not feature the ankh or eye of Horus, but they do remind in style, design, or material use of the tastes that those remarkable ancestors favored.

Collar jewelry was a favorite of the time. Gold, too, found favor with those who could afford it. When you combine the two, this 1977 Tiffany & Co. Vannerie Mesh gold necklace collar stands out. Fashioned from 18k yellow gold, the neck collar measures 10mm from top to bottom and features a depth of 4.5mm.

Of course, beaded collars would be just as authentic, which reminds of this rare green tourmaline necklace with quartz beads. We custom-made this necklace after receiving 35 Arquiana tourmalines, completely natural, that show excellent green, white, and pink tones as well as gorgeous inclusions. Their combined weight is 351.0cts. We added 38 clear quartz beads, each measuring 4mm, to act as spacers. They weigh a collective 15.96cts.

When ancient Egyptians wore rings, they frequently selected those that featured their seals. A vintage equivalent could be the 14k yellow gold ring by Larter & Sons. It displays a hand-engraved seal in the form of a crest. The ring has a top width of 14.51mm that tapers down to 3.75mm at the bottom. If you prefer not to wear a crest, we recommend this 14k yellow gold signet ring that comes from Yard. The top’s width is 18.3mm while the bottom width only measures 3.5mm.

The experts in ancient Egyptian studies reveal that ear piercing did not become popular until the New Kingdom. Once the fashion took hold, Egyptians wore earrings. Semi-precious stones were a favorite. The one type mentioned by name is lapis lazuli.

When you combine the two fashion statements, you find that we end where we started: with a piece from Tiffany & Co. This time, there is a pair of 18k yellow gold earrings with lapis. Designed by the famed Elsa Peretti, they display the open circle look. These earrings measure 12.68mm from top to bottom and 12.61mm from side to side. They have a depth of 5.51mm.

At Peter Suchy Jewelers we are experts in all types of vintage, estate and antique jewelry. We hope you’ll stop by our showroom located at 1137 High Ridge Road in Stamford Connecticut.

Or, hop on over to our top-rated BigCommerce Store where you’ll find all the vintage Egyptian style jewelry you see here. If you find a listing has ended, please email us at info@petersuchyjewelers.com as we may still have the item in stock.

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