Customs
Gold's function as an adornment, as jewellery, has been in existence for over 6,000 years. The earliest gold jewellery dates from the Sumerian civilization that flourished in the fertile basin between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers around 4,000 BC.
Gifts of gold make a vital contribution as tokens of love and precious souvenirs on those emotional occasions that bring people together - weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas and other religious holidays, graduations, Mother's Day, birthdays, religious ceremonies such as baptisms, and many more.
Why is gold so coveted? Since the beginning of time, the intrinsic beauty, warmth, sensuality and spiritual richness of gold has earned it pride of place as the favourite metal of jewellers. Gold has inspired craftsmen to create objects of desire that unite us with our emotions. In the Middle Ages, alchemists attempted to use their magic to make gold from other metals. They believed that gold was a source of immortality, and so it was used in medicines designed to fight old age and prolong life.
In 2005 consumers spent a record $39bn on gold jewellery, demonstrating the confidence that women around the world have in gold. Jewellery demand currently outstrips the supply of gold that mines can produce.
