ALTHOUGH jewellery trends have changed over the centuries, people have always worn it as a means to advertise their social status and to look their best during important events such as weddings.

Inscriptions on pottery excavated from ancient Pyu towns dating back to 500 BCE to 900 CE indicate that upper-class women wore many kinds of ornaments, such as hairpins, beads, earrings and belts made of pearls.
Jewellery from the latter years of the era included necklaces that consisted of strings of beads ornamented with different kinds of gems, and gold and silver rings.

During the Bagan Dynasty (1044 to 1287 CE) the arts of gem cutting and goldsmithing were highly developed.

During the Konbaung-era (1752 to 1858 CE) reign of King Aloungmintayar, many Myanmar women enjoyed wearing gold and silver.

Women were also fond of wearing silver and gold ornaments during the Yadanapon era (1854 to 1885 CE). Those from the upper classes often wore large, pointed diamond earrings.

Many people in Myanmar have long believed that wearing such diamond jewellery brings good luck, and so it has become a popular ornament to wear at weddings.

Until a few years ago one common accessory for brides was a diamond choker, thought to symbolised wealth and prosperity.

During 1930s diamonds remained among the essential wedding wear but they was also joined by gold and pearls, which carried symbolic powers of their own.

Many people believed that pearls would bring peace to the married couple since they came from water, widely regarded as a symbol of tranquility. This practice has become less common in recent decades.

Wearing thick golden ankle bracelets became popular during the ancient Pyu period and remained fashionable for many centuries. Although the bracelets fell out of favour during the 1960s, they came into style again in the late 1980s, particularly in Mandalay.

Because the price of diamonds is so high, the practice of wearing imitation gems at weddings has become increasingly common. Even those who wear real diamonds tend not to overdo it, and goldsmiths now create beautiful designs using fewer gems.

During the 1990s brides began experimenting with more colourful gems, sometimes wearing necklaces made of rubies, jade or pearls. In the last couple years, however, the trend has cirlced back towards wearing diamonds.