Jewellery Through The Ages 1714 - 1935

When you stop to take a look at how jewellery has changed through the ages, we see a number of standout periods, those being the Georgian, Victoria, Edwardian and Art Deco eras. It was the years between 1714 and 1935 which saw the main trends emerge, primarily due to the fact that jewellery became more affordable and accessible to the wider population during these periods.

At the bottom of the post you will find a fantastic infographic from our friends at Laurelle antique jewellery. LoveAntiques has also put together a brief overview of each period :

Georgian Period (1714 - 1830)

Georgian ringDuring the Georgian period, fine jewellery became incredibly popular for the first time and gave birth to a number of trends which would be seen running through the following years. Diamonds became the favourite stone for jewellery, however emeralds, rubies and sapphires were also widely used in pieces throughout the era.

A common way to identify pieces of Georgian antique jewellery is to take a look at how the stones are set, with these often being set over foil or having enclosed backs.

During the Georgian period, all pieces of jewellery were still made by hand, with those still available today either at auction or through specialist dealers being some of the finest pieces which money can buy, albeit being some of the oldest, rarest and most expensive pieces you’ll find.

 
Victorian Period (1837 - 1900)

Victorian Gold BraceletThe Victorian Period actually consisted of (as far as jewellery and fashion trends are concerned) three core periods, with these being the Romantic Period (1837 - 1861), the Grand Period (1861 - 1880) and the Aesthetic Period (1880 - 1901).

During the Romantic period, pieces of jewellery mirrored the affection shown between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, whilst the Grand period marked the death of the prince and the Queen’s decades of mourning. It was during this period that Jet mourning jewellery became popular and the whole nation adopted the trend from the Queen.

From 1880, the Aesthetic Period saw pieces get both smaller and simpler, paving the way for some of the trends which properly emerged during Edwardian times. 

 
Edwardian Period (1901 - 1914)

Edwardian Pearl NecklaceDuring the Edwardian era, brands such as Cartier and Faberge became popular and rose to fame, whilst diamonds regained their popularity which had been lost slightly in Victorian times to a wider range of stones. Jewellery inspired by Rococo also became popular, creating what became known as the garland trend.

It’s interesting to note that many of the pieces which came into light in Edwardian times actually had their roots firmly in the Victorian period and many hewed to 18th century traditions.

 
 
Art Deco Period (1920 - 1935)

Art Deco EarringsFollowing the end of the First World War, the Art Deco period, which had strong roots in France, emerged, bringing with it stunning pieces marked by their symmetry and geometry. It is important to note that ‘Art Deco’ pieces were pieces of the machine and, as such, generally followed a grid-like appearance.

Following the war, many found themselves with money for luxuries and this paved the way for pieces of jewellery which were influenced by fine art. Diamond bracelets, ruby brooches and sapphire earrings were all popular and easily identifiable pieces from these years.

Each of the periods boasts it’s own trends and developments in popular jewellery, with the emergence of certain items making absolute sense given the history associated with the eras.

We’d love to share with you the recently produced infographic below which perfectly showcases a timeline between 1714 and 1935 of ‘Jewellery Through The Ages.'

 

Jewellery Through The Ages Infographic

This Jewellery Through The Ages infographic was provided by:  www.laurelleantiquejewellery.co.uk

 
For a selection of jewellery available on LoveAntiques.com, visit www.loveantiques.com/vintage-jewellery