Jewellery Trends through the Ages
Fashion goes through cycles of change; some trends arrive and others are forgotten for a time. Jewellery trends are much the same; they evolves to suit the fashion that’s in popular demand.
1920s – Art deco
The 20s were all about luxury and grandeur; we see that reflected in literary texts like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Spending during the 20s was lavish and unrestrained and women seized every opportunity they could to get dressed up. The statement jewellery of the time was made from geometric shapes, and stones like diamonds and pearls were all the rage.
1940s – Diamond age
Like the 20s, this era was about glamour, and glamour equals diamonds. This trend is believed to have originated from an ad campaign by De Beers Diamond Company. Their advertisement included the phrase ‘A Diamond is Forever’ – soon enough American women believed diamonds were a must have for an engagement ring. Hollywood was also showered in diamonds, which of course reinforced the trend.
1960s – Plastic and psychedelia
At this time plastic became the material of choice as it was so versatile; it could be worked into different shapes and colours, and the 60s were all about being bold and bright. Plastic was also cheap to manufacture and easy for women to acquire. This meant they could afford to buy multiple pieces and wear them all at once. People could also take up making their own jewellery, integrating them with peace signs, flowers and psychedelic colours: it was the era of the hippie.
1970s – Beadwork
The interest in bold jewellery continued into the 70s, but the colours weren’t so bright. Accessories had darker colours and beaded jewellery became the trend. The runway featured large gold earrings which also became a part of the trend. While many trends fade, we still see people adorn beads and big gold earrings today.
1980s – Statement pieces
In the 80s there was no room for delicate pieces; it was all about making a statement and to do that everything had to be big and bold. DIY jewellery returned but the theme was punk rock and, like the 60s, being heavily decked in jewellery was the in-thing; except attention was put into mixing and matching as a way of personalisation.
You’re probably questioning how some of these trends came to be, whereas others carry timeless elegance that will never fade. If you want to relive the diamond age or own a vintage piece, why not take a look at our current stock here at Cuttings Jewellers?