On a visit to Suleiman, or Turkish gold

As we know, literally every part of the world produces a different kind of jewelry. In one country such ornaments will be displayed quite strongly and even obtrusively, and in another only with a delicate touch. However, undoubtedly, jewelry is the pride of every woman - and sometimes even men!

If we go on a trip to Turkey, we can be sure that we will find ourselves in colorful bazaars, where in the rush of handicrafts and crowds of people it will be possible to spot the real "goodies" among Turkish jewelry. For, entering this country, we open the door to the Orient. Jewelry has always been an integral part of trade in Turkey. Bazaars to this day are even brimming with the splendor of beautiful ornaments. They are a perfect reflection of both modern trends and historical references - in the form, for example, of Ottoman designs.

Most of the oriental ornaments that can be spotted among the colorful stalls are gold chains, bracelets or earrings. The country of Suleiman the Magnificent (associated quite strongly with the famous TV series aired on Polish Television) has for centuries prided itself on just such products. It is worth mentioning that there is an interesting legend here, related to the occurrence of such a huge amount of gold in Turkey. Once the ruler of Phrygia himself, called Midas, was said to have come to Turkish lands. He allegedly went to the small Turkish river Paktol in order to get rid of his ability to turn any thing into gold. The natives claim that since then the small river Paktol has become gold-bearing. Reportedly, it was also thanks to it that the entire Ottoman court of Suleiman possessed such vast wealth. The famous ruler's numerous harem dressed daily not only in beautifully decorated robes, but also in oriental jewelry - of which the fourth wife of the great Ottoman ruler, Roxolana (known as Hürrem), was a great fan. Turkish gold later became part of the tradition. Why? Well, when a young girl, getting married, received gold jewelry as dowry - she was thus secured for the future.

Nowadays, Turkish craftsmen make much of the fashion that prevailed at the Ottoman court during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. The gold we can find today in bustling squares and Turkish markets is most often that of the 750 or 585 grade, so we can encounter both rose gold (in which Russians are fond of and come from far away to buy it) and white gold. Surprisingly, we will never see a price next to the piece of jewelry we choose. Whether we get the coveted gold earrings or pendant will be determined by the process... Bargaining. Turkish jewelry is always a big step ahead - ornaments that are designed by local artisans only become fashionable worldwide after some time. So it's safe to say that Suleiman's country sets trends in gold jewelry design.