By Sandra J. Paluzzi
The Bead Peddler®

Jewelry is sometimes used to symbolize position or achievement.  Here in the USA, we have class rings, super bowl rings, Catholic bishop's rings and beauty queen's tiaras to name a few.  In the past, cultures all over the world have used beads to denote status.  Some still do.

Since the beginning of time, tribes used beads to mark the rulers or medicine men.  In fact, until the late 18th century, beads were very expensive and were a sign of royalty or wealth.   In some countries, certain colors were reserved for royalty.  England's Queen was the only person allowed to wear amethyst beads.  

It was not until glass was invented that beads became   available to the middle class.  Even then, beads did not become truly plentiful until the machinery was invented to mass produce them.  This happened in the late 18th century.

The mass production of beads made them available to anyone who could afford them.   It also lowered the price of certain beads enough so that many could not afford to wear them.  But that did not stop all cultures from claiming certain beads to denote status.  Today, the native African tribes still use beads to denote youth, marital status, mothers, respected elders and diviners.