The difference between "jewellery" and "jewelry" stems from the historical evolution of English spelling and how it diverged between British and American English.

1. British Influence

The word "jewellery" originates from the Old French word "juelerie", meaning "precious things" or "ornaments," which itself derives from the Latin word "jocale" (meaning "plaything" or "jewel"). The British spelling retains the double "L" and "E" to align with French orthography, reflecting the influence of French on British English after the Norman conquest of England in 1066.

2. American Spelling Reforms

The American spelling "jewelry" can be attributed to Noah Webster, a lexicographer who aimed to simplify and standardize American English in the early 19th century. Webster introduced various changes to remove what he saw as unnecessary letters, making spelling more phonetic. For instance, he changed "colour" to "color", "theatre" to "theater", and "jewellery" to "jewelry".

His intention was to establish a distinct American identity through language, while also making English spelling more accessible by simplifying complex forms. Thus, "jewelry" became the standard spelling in the United States.

Summary of Differences

• British English: Jewellery (retaining the French influence with the double "L" and extra "E")
• American English: Jewelry (simplified spelling introduced by Webster)

This divergence is just one example of the broader differences in spelling conventions between British and American English, which arose in part due to Webster’s reforms.