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