Periods Of Estate And Vintage Jewelry… Romance, Passion, Creativity And Elegance

Issue 16.11

Romance, Passion, Creativity and Elegance:  For centuries these words, and many others, have been used to describe the beautiful work of art – that is jewelry.  Jewelry which is termed “vintage” includes many decades or eras.  Each generation has had their own distinctive taste, from the nature inspired Georgian Period, to the creative & elaborate Victorian Period & on to the sharp lines & bright colors of the Art Deco Period. 

Collectors & respecters of fine jewelry alike search far & wide for the perfect piece to add to their collection & they will have a wonderful opportunity to do so.  Starting April 16^th and running through the 23^rd, McArthur Jewelers will be holding an Estate Jewelry Event.  They will be featuring pieces from the Late Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro, & of course from the Modern Era.

Georgian jewelry (1714-1837) Georgian era jewelry is handmade, making the quality of each piece variable. Needless to say, Georgian jewelry is very rare. Often featuring nature-inspired designs such as leaves and birds, Georgian jewelry frequently includes precious stones.

Early Victorian, romantic jewelry (1837-1855) Like jewelry of the Georgian era, early Victorian era jewelry features nature-inspired designs. Frequently, these designs would be delicately & intricately etched into gold. Lockets & brooches were popular everyday jewelry during the early Victorian era whereas colored gemstones & diamonds were worn during the evening.

Mid-Victorian, grand jewelry (1856-1880) Because the Grand or Mid-Victorian era corresponded with the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, many jewelry pieces have solemn, grave designs. Known as mourning jewelry, the pieces feature heavy, dark stones. Jet, onyx, amethyst, & garnet are frequently found in jewelry from this period. The jewelry also became especially creative during this period. More colorful designs were born featuring shells, mosaics & colorful gemstones.

Late Victorian, aesthetic jewelry (1885-1900) During the Late Victorian or Aesthetic period, jewelers used diamonds & feminine, bright gemstones such as sapphire, peridot, & spinel. Star & crescent designs as well as elaborate hat pins were also popular.

Arts and crafts jewelry (1894-1923) Due to the Industrial Revolution, many jewelry designers rebelled during the Arts and Crafts movement, returning to intricate jewelry designs & handmade craftsmanship. It was common for jewelry of this era to be simple in pattern, made of colorful, uncut stones.

Art Nouveau jewelry (1895-1915) Art Nouveau was a style popular from roughly 1895 until World War I. The movement actually began around 1875 in Paris & its influence went throughout the Western world. The movement eventually died out by the end of World War I, but has since continued to be revived throughout the contemporary ages. Art Nouveau jewelry follows curves & naturalistic designs, especially depicting long-haired, sensual women sometimes turning into birdlike or flowerlike forms. Overall the Art Nouveau movement was a romantic one of imaginary dreaminess.  Magnificent floral & botanical forms often worked in enamel were inexpensive & became so popular once mass-produced, that the Art Nouveau style declined.

Edwardian jewelry (1901-1915) The Edwardian period was born when Queen Victoria died and her son Edward became king. During this period, expensive gemstones such as diamonds, emeralds & rubies & elaborate designs were the fashion.

Art Deco jewelry (1915-1935) Influenced by African, Egyptian & Japanese themes, Art Deco jewelry is famous for its geometric designs, sharp lines, & bright colors.  Necklaces were long and bracelets were worn many at a time. Amber & murano beads were worn as well as chokers.  Designers refer to the “Deco” era as the time between the two world wars.

Retro jewelry (1945-1960) Inspired by Hollywood, Retro jewelry is colorful, bold and elaborate. Commonly worn were large cocktail rings, bracelets, watches, necklaces & charm bracelets.