Yemenite Jewelry

Yemenite jewelry, like the people who make it, is some of the most unique and intricate jewelry crafted today. The traditions of hand-crafting jewelry from a variety of metals, including copper, brass, silver and gold, go back possibly more than 2,000 years and is as old as the community itself, a few of whom still live in mountainous areas of northern Yemen.

The craftsmanship of making this special type of jewelry has been handed down from father to son and many Yemenite Jews who immigrated to Israel still practice this ancient trade. Working with softer, pliable metals, and incorporating an intricate type of soldering, the Yemenite craftsmen are able to produce outstanding jewelry pieces that are sought after by people all over the world, including collectors. Taking metal strips, wire, and incorporating them with semiprecious stones such as agates, turquoise, cat's eyes, and other stones, the pieces produced "by the hands of the smelter" range from bracelets and earrings to exquisite 'chokers' still warn at traditional Yemenite wedding ceremonies.

A traditional Yemenite bridal trousseau includes an exquisite array of jewelry including chokers, coins and other objects suspended on web-like chains, bracelets, and a special headpiece which many brides still insist of wearing in a ceremony which has been virtually unchanged for centuries. Many Yemenite brides actually have two ceremonies: one wearing a modern white wedding gown, and the second in the traditional manner in which her entire body is literally covered by the traditional Yemenite wedding costume which includes a myriad of jewelry items.

In oriental Jewish society, Yemenites included, jewelry pieces are considered to be symbol of wealth and also of the love a husband has for his wife. Gifts of jewelry, especially bracelets and pendants on intricate gold and silver chains are often given by the husband to his wife on birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

Purchasing authentic Yemenite jewelry is an art into itself as the reputation of the individual craftsman is as or even more important as the jewelry piece itself. The craftsmen pride themselves in their work and this often results in their jewelry being sought after by collectors who prize and cherish the intricacies of the work. Many jewelry items have religious motifs including traditional Stars of David, Hebrew names for The Almighty, 'hamsas' and other good luck charms; and even replicas of the jeweled breastplate worn by the ancient High Priest during the days of the First Temple. Yemenite Jewelry can also be found on various internet websites, including Ebay, and the details and qualifications of the craftsmen who manufacture the jewelry pieces are often noted. One must still be careful, however, as some jewelry pieces listed as "authentic" are really copies made by machines and by non-authentic jewelry smiths.

But for those who are lucky to obtain the 'real thing', authentic Yemenite jewelry pieces are sure to please and complement those who wear them. It might even be worth a making trip to Israel to meet the craftsmen themselves!