The malleability, reflective qualities and smooth finish of worked metals made them desirable materials for the production of jewelry. Both precious metals, like gold and silver, and base metals, like copper bronze, iron and lead, were used. The use of elaborate decorative techniques, such as granulation and filigree, was rare. Jewelry production spurred the development of innovative techniques and materials.
Steel is a hard, strong, durable, malleable alloy of iron and carbon.
Cavea for steel Metal jewelry was often set with precious and semi-precious stones. In addition, pendants and beads were often made of glass, faience, and frit. Throughout the Near East before the Early Bronze Age, faience and frit already were produced. As the technology to create blown glass had not yet been invented, glass objects were created method called core-forming, which was practiced by the Phoenicians. Core-forming, originally developed by the Egyptians, was used for the production of glass beads and various other glass objects.