| The Victorian era was from 1837-1901. This was the | | | | of Edwardian jewelry. They were made to look |
| reign of Queen Victoria of England. | | | | delicate to be able to blend in with lace, feathers and |
| In that time people would wear whatever she | | | | silk. Princess Alexandra had a huge impact on the |
| thought looked good.In the beginning, Victorian | | | | periods fashion. In this period jeweler's progressed in |
| jewelry purer 18-22 karat gold. In 1854, gold was | | | | gemstone cutting. Platinum was used a lot and |
| standardized and had 9, 12 or 15 karats. It had to be | | | | sometimes made to look like hand made lace.Art |
| stamped and hallmarked. The other metals used if | | | | deco is a style that relates to 1920's-1930's, which |
| not gold were electric gilt, mercury gilt, pinchbeck and | | | | ended about 1935. The Art deco movement was |
| silver.The design of Victorian jewelry came from | | | | mainly an American thing. The style of jewelry had |
| nature. Birds, flowers and trees with detailed | | | | strong lines, bright contrasts of color, geometric |
| engravings. Repousse were large solid pieces that had | | | | shapes, they also used bakelite. Symmetry and |
| fluted and raised edges. Cannatille jewelry used | | | | geometry were at the center of art deco.Influences |
| strands of gold wire that were twisted and wound | | | | in the design of the jewelry were Japanese, Paris, |
| into intricate designs.Near the end of the Victorian | | | | the machine age, Egyptian, jazz, cubism and Russian. |
| era, Egypt, Greece and Italy styles had big influences | | | | Also art deco was influenced by the art nouveau and |
| in design. This was because of archaeological | | | | Edwardian periods. Taking the style and grace from |
| expeditions that uncovered lots of ancient | | | | art nouveau, diamonds and platinum from Edwardian |
| jewelry.When Queen Victoria died, new jewelry | | | | and turning them into a geometric, symmetrical array |
| designs rushed into the market. Because of the | | | | of diamonds and platinum.Art deco had great vibrant |
| conservatism, jewelers could not push the boundaries | | | | colors, sapphires, emeralds, coral, rubies and turquoise |
| of design while she was still alive. This surge in | | | | were heavily used. Black and white was also used a |
| techniques of manufacturing and design eventually | | | | lot. Cocktail rings, long pendants, brooches and bangle |
| brought about the art nouveau period.Art nouveau | | | | bracelets were all the rage.Cigarette cases and |
| jewelry was expressive, exotic and exuberant. They | | | | compacts of the time were covered in jewels. The |
| say the appreciation of it may take time and art | | | | movement of art deco halted because of WWII and |
| nouveau means "new art" in French. Imaginative and | | | | the depression.The 1930's and 1940's brought about |
| mystical jewelry, art nouveau was from | | | | the retro period. Large gemstones were being used. |
| 1890-1910.With pale colors and gentle curves, art | | | | Topaz, citrine and aquamarine were popular. Even |
| nouveau jewelry used amethyst, moonstone, peridot, | | | | synthetics were starting to become popular. Platinum |
| opal, citrine and pearls. Copper, ivory, shell, horn and | | | | was replaced by rose gold.Today everything from |
| glass were also used.Flowers like lilies, irises, orchids, | | | | vintage jewelry to simple elegance is in. Going back |
| bugs and animals, even human forms were put into | | | | to the old stuff and mixing it in with new pieces and |
| the designs. Mythical beats or enchanted women | | | | designs.Dave William G. runs , a website devoted to |
| were common. Enameling was used throughout the | | | | all things jewelry. From designs to gemstones we try |
| art nouveau period.The Edwardian period was from | | | | and cover it all. So please visit us today. You can |
| 1901-1910. The period that many have not heard of | | | | sign-up for our 7 part mini-course on diamonds while |
| because of the two great periods before,(art | | | | you're there. may distribute this article, put on your |
| nouveau) and after(art deco).Diamonds were a staple | | | | site, etc. |