The price of gold hit a high in the summer of 2020, at £1,750 an ounce. It is one of the most widely used commodities, used in phones, smoke detectors and decoration. But our favourite use of gold is decorating ourselves.
However, it also has another powerful and symbolic meaning.
Luxury Interior Designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said: “Gold equals God in more or less every single religion. When we think about gold it’s a halo, or it’s an alter piece, a crucifix, a star of David or a crescent moon. Our humanity’s instinct is to use gold to denote something sacred.”
It is no wonder that people like to drape themselves in gold jewellery, if it is the closest material to the Divine.
While it has been used throughout history in both religious and non-religious architecture – and even to adorn food – the most popular use of gold throughout history has been jewellery.
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Currently, the global jewellery market is worth over £200billion.
Hatton Garden, located in London, is one of the world’s most prestigious jewellery districts, housing 300 business showcasing the finest gold in the capital.
The documentary described gold as having “seduced us for centuries like no other”.
While it is a mark of luxury and the elite, attaining gold has become rather “democratised”, as it’s something potentially anyone can find.
Vincent Thurkettle, a gold prospector, spent 43 years hunting gold.
He described his rags to riches story, and said: “You have no choice where you start but it’s entirely up to you where you end up. I’m not obsessed with gold but I am in love with it.”
Jeff Salmon, Arts and Antiques dealer, underpinned why people love gold jewellery so much: “Gold has endured for thousands of years because we all know it’s intrinsically valuable.”
He added that the material is “yummy”.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen even deemed it “kinky”.
And it appears the popularity of gold is not set to wane any time soon.
The documentary predicted: “It looks set to capture us for generations.
“It’s in our DNA.”