JEWEL, any precious stone, or ornament set with precious stones.
Jewels formed part of the ornaments with which the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, especially their ladies of distinction, adorned themselves. So great was the extravagance of the Roman ladies in this respect, that Pliny the Elder says he saw Lollia Paulina with an equipage of this kind, amounting, according to Dr Arbuthnot's calculation, to L.322,916. 13s. 4d. of our money. It is worthy of observation, that precious stones amongst the Romans, and all the ancients, were much scarcer, dearer, and consequently in higher estimation, than amongst us, since a commerce was opened with the Indies. The ancients did not know how to cut and polish them to much perfection; but coloured stones were not scarce, and they cut them very well either hollow or in relief. When luxury had gained ground amongst them, the Romans hung pendants and pearls in their ears; and for this purpose the ears of both sexes were frequently bored. See EARS.