Medieval
JewelryWiki Editorial·1 source·Reviewed 2026-08-04
Jewellery in an intensely hierarchical society, where what you were permitted to wear was determined by rank, and a stone was valued for its protective power as much as its beauty.
Properties
| Property | Value | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 1200 – 1500 [1] | — |
| Named for | The medieval period itself; a chronological label rather than a style movement. [1] | — |
| Defining traits | Reflects an intensely hierarchical and status-conscious society. Colour and protective power were highly valued, and some jewels carry cryptic or magical inscriptions believed to protect the wearer. [1] | — |
| Characteristic stones and metals | Royalty and the nobility wore gold, silver and precious gems; lower ranks wore base metals such as copper or pewter. Until the late 14th century gems were usually polished rather than cut, so size and lustrous colour determined value. Enamels — ground glass fired onto metal — supplied colour. [1] | — |
| What to watch for | The single most useful fact for reading a medieval piece: before the late 14th century stones were polished, not faceted. Sparkle as we understand it did not yet exist, so a "medieval" piece with brilliant-cut stones is either much later or reset. [1] | — |
Sources
- V&A — A history of jewellery — Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A, A history of jewellery)