The History of Jewellery Design for Beginners

 

When buying antique pieces, it’s important to know which era it belongs to, firstly to make sure you’re paying the right price but for your own knowledge too. Common terms we hear with antique jewellery include ‘Art Deco’, ‘Art Nouveau’, ‘Retro’ and ‘Edwardian’; our experts at Cuttings are always on hand to answer questions you may have. 

Without further ado, let’s dive in: 

 

Retro Jewellery (1930s-1950s)

Pieces created in the late 1930s and 1940s were highly influenced by the turbulent and ever changing world accompanying the Second World War. They often lacked gems due to wartime shortages and were made up of chunky futuristic designs that are bold and colourful. Large cocktail rings, charm bracelets, glitzy watches and necklaces were all very popular.

 

Art Deco Jewellery (1920s-1930s)

Women’s fashion dramatically changed in the 1920s. After the restrictive Edwardian era and the devastation of the First World War, women’s role in society changed and this freedom and fun was represented in style at the time. Skirts grew shorter and fashion grew bolder, with influences from Japanese, Egyptian and African cultures came long necklaces, ornate earrings and chokers.  

 

Edwardian Jewellery (1901-1910)

While King Edward VII was on the throne, jewellery design was elaborate, lavish and ornate, with lots of attention to detail. Diamonds, pearls and brilliant gemstones were all prominent during this era.

 

Art Nouveau Jewellery (1895-1915)

Incredible effort was put into art nouveau pieces, with jewellery designers taking reference from the furniture and architecture of the era. Jewellery featured flowers, insects and beautiful women produced in enamel along with moonstones, opals and pearls.

 

Victorian Jewellery (1837-1901)

The Victorian era covers a wide time span, so there are naturally a few sub eras to categorise jewellery:

 

1. Early Victorian, Romanticism (1837-1860)

Similar to the Georgian era, jewellery from the Romantic era was naturalistic, characterised by gold filigree and floral designs. Bracelets with jewelled buckles were also very popular, along with lockets, brooches and coloured gemstones.

 

2. Mid Victorian, Confidence & Revivalism (1860-1880)

The unfortunate death of Queen Victoria’s husband in this era brought about 'mourning jewellery'; sombre design pieces using dark stones like jet, amethyst, onyx and deep red garnets were prominent. This period also marked an improvement in gemstone polishing, resulting in brightly coloured stones being made to fit into new settings.

 

3. Late Victorian, Aesthetic (1880-1901)

The late Victorian period saw a shift from hand-crafting to mass production, with an emphasis on diamonds and gemstones to meet the growing demand for fine jewellery. Hat pins and sentimental brooches were also popular and widely produced.

 

4. Georgian Jewellery (1714-1837)

Georgian jewellery was all handmade, presenting intricate designs with natural themes. Jewellery from this era is both rare and of high quality, so understandably it is highly sought after and will achieve great prices.

 

We hope this information gives you an insight into the brilliant history that jewellery and fashion have developed over. For more information about design eras or a specific piece you like the look of, visit us in store or give us a call to speak to one of our expert team.