Japan has a long, distinguished history in the cultivation and design of jewels and gems. Skilled artists and sculptors carved out jewelry products from precious stones. Gold was added to the mix in the medieval Japan, making the jewelry even more stunning. From about the 17th Century, European jewelry penetrated Japan, and, as usual, the Japanese built upon the best of the West. Among the ornaments produced in modern Japan include: jewelry combs, buttons, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Annual jewelry sales in Japan are more than 1,200 trillion yen. Japan harnesses about 8% of sales share in the world and it is still one of the most dynamic markets in the world for jewelry.