Somewhere in a prehistoric cave, stones with an odd sparkle or unusual color were stashed by tribal leaders and handed down to the member of family in line to succession of leadership. Over time, with more sophistication, jewels came to be recognized as a portent of power and supremacy over lesser members of the population. The value and size of the opulent jewels determined the extent of power. Curiously, the rarity of jewels amassed by royalty, particularly those royal families who increased their control over their people by laying claim to the most unusual gems in their crowns. Emeralds, rubies, diamonds, sapphires and pearls were the jewels of kings and queens. These represented the division between royalty and serfdom. The wider the division, the more powerful the position.
The most sought-after jewels are always those that are rarest. Those possessing these rare jewels strenuously protected them. Often, with fatal results. Thus, family jewels definition has its history in the succession of royalty where those who controlled nations with dynastic power held most control over the rarest of gems.
In any society where royalty is the chief structure of that society, ownership of jewels handed down from one generation to the next insures stature above the ordinary. Only those who afforded such insurance could claim extraordinary wealth. The older the family jewels, the more value and wealth was attached to such ownership.
In modern society, however, family jewels definition equates with that which is usually interpreted as inheritance, whether of a monetary nature or tangible property. When money in dynastic families wore thin, it wasn't unusual to sell the "family jewels" to avoid financial ruin. In today's society, whenever anyone is on the verge of bankruptcy, the trite expression to "sell the family jewels" generally indicates financial desperation.
Financial ruin is to the wealthy what fast cash is to a poor man, so the expression goes. In either case, money never limitless and given its autonomous power, money can and often does create lack of control and in most dire straights, criminal activity. In modern society, family jewels no longer intentionally represent an inheritance of valuable jewels, although many families still retain keepsakes such as wedding rings, brooches and pendants which are handed down as heirloom pieces. Single-strand pearl necklaces were a fashion statement particularly when they were heirlooms and fitted into the bridal axiom: "Something old, something new...". Family jewels definition has one other mentionable, though double entendre, meaning. A well-endowed man or woman bearing notable, inherited physiological trait is said to have "inherited the family jewels". This is a lighter side of the meaning and though a bit trite, is often used descriptively as a means to draw attention to one's family physiology.
Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about family jewels definition, please visit Choosing a Diamond Site for current articles and discussions.
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