If you are near Yale University, you may want to swing by to a look at what sounds like a fabulous exhibit: "Baubles, bangles, and Beads: American Jewelry From Yale University, 1700-2005."

From Courant.com: "Yale doesn't have enough room to display jewelry's elaborate and extensive past, but with "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads," Yale University Art Gallery curators hope to chronicle the roles jewelry has played in American culture - from a statement about personal taste, to an indication of a person's affiliations, to the social ritual of mourning.

Many of the pieces in the exhibition - the first of its kind in the gallery's history - have never been shown to the public.

"Everyone has a personal connection to jewelry, and because of the recognition of that personal connection, it sparks curiosity," said Anna Hammond, deputy director of the gallery. "Jewelry weaves in the history of American culture in a very individual way.

"Beyond the value and history of the objects in and of themselves, it's how people look at them and respond to them that makes this such a popular exhibit."

For more about the exhibit, visit the gallery's web page.