What is "nose-jewel"

A nose-jewel is a piece of jewelry that was worn on a nose.

In the Bible, nose-jewels are mentioned in Isaiah 3:21, and referred to in Ezekiel 16:12, Genesis 24:47, Proverbs 11:22, and Hosea 2:13. They were among the most valued of female ornaments. They were made of ivory or metal, occasionally jewelled, more than an inch in diameter, and hung upon the mouth. Eliezer gave one to Rebekah which was gold and weighed half a shekel.

During any South Asian wedding the bride will always wear a large nose ornament called the 'Koka' which hangs from the nose and has a chain to the side of the head. It tied to the hair with a pin and has gem stones and pearls. The 'koka' is ring shaped and is specially fitted to hang over the lip of the wearer.

At the present day, the women in various parts of the world, especially East Asia wear these ornaments, attached through a piercing on the side of the nostril. Small gems or studs carried on a piercing have become fashionable for (mostly) young women in the West in recent years.