Antique Jewelry is jewelry that has reached 100 years or more, some argue 70 years only, in both cases, making it is a witness to a previous generation in history.
Historically, however, "antiques" hold a particular reference. Those antiquities from Old Greek and Roman civilizations, known as the 'Age of Antiquity' are considered antiques, but this is only applied in certain contexts, not in the true sense of the definition.
Antique Jewelry is an ongoing commodity of human civilization and will always hold a wonderful significance in the History of Jewelry.
Jewelry in context of art history, tells us important things, like the age, and the period-style of our Antique Jewels.
By cross-referencing period styles, forms and the materials used in the history of jewelry, dealers and collectors can period date pieces with a greater deal of accuracy. After-all, bones, stones, antique diamonds,
beautiful blue gemstones,
and the skillful use of
antique gold work,
don't lie!
Jewelry of the past, are investment worthy, miniature works of art, crafted in gold and many other different materials. The jewelry may be embellished with precious and non-precious gemstones.
Each jewel tells it's own story and many pieces are everlasting symbols of love and passion.
Pieces often talk of intimacy and subtle reference to sexuality. Sexual explicitness, could be expressed discreetly through the medium of jewelry. It was often impossible for lovers to express their love openly in days gone by. Jewelry offered people in love, a public form of expression and a sense of sexual freedom.
Fine jewelry that has been crafted incorporating jewelry techniques practiced during that period, using materials that were popular in that same period.
Handcrafted Antique Jewelry was executed back in history, with painstaking attention to fine details, of a quality we hardly ever see today.
A symbol of love in the shape of an antique platinum and diamond engagement ring has been appointed keeper of the royal flame of love for over a generation.
History and family tradition add romance to a heirloom wedding ring.
Antique Jewelry is categorized into separate period styles. Let's do some time traveling back in time and take a closer look at each period. Our time travel back to the major period styles in jewelry begins at the dawn of 18th century and from there we travel forward, towards the present, stopping off at the dawn of 20th century. Our destination is Europe.
Premier jewelry, gemstones, and
Natural pearls
have answered a deep and personal love of beauty throughout each of the period styles in the history of jewelry. But that's just half the story.
Antique Jewelry is not just about romantic, intimate shiny bits.
Click here to find out about the sexuality of antique wedding rings and natural pearls.
Fine gold jewelry, gemstones and natural pearls have been used strategically as economic tools in world politics, throughout the history of jewelry, and quite brilliantly by British royalty and French royalty, as Emperor Napoleon shows us in his love of fine Jewelry in the
Georgian period.
Key points in the history of jewelry are:
Jewelry existed, very strongly as an art form in which style and fashion were set by the aristocracy.
Bourgeois jewelry, peasant jewelry and jewelry in less precious materials, that we now call costume jewelry were all simply imitations of court fashions. Click on the links below to enter the decorative periods during the history of jewelry.
-
1714 - 1830 Georgian Jewelry
is named after the four successive English kings, George I, George II, George III and George IV and it spans most of the 18th and part of the 19th century. On the European continent it is called the Louis styles, named after the French kings Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI.
- 1837 - 1901 Victorian Jewelry officially starts with the coronation of a very young Queen Victoria. It ends with her death at the age of 82, in 1901.
- 1895 - 1910 (the peak years) Art Nouveau Style Jewelry
Inspiration form mother-nature resulted in the greatest period in English, European and American Jewelry.
1901 - 1914 Edwardian Style Jewelry
officially begins in 1901 when Edward VII took the throne at the age of 56. Although Edward VII died in 1910, the "Edwardian" style continued until the outbreak of the first world war in 1914. Coinciding with 'la belle époque' fashion era on the continent, a French term which means 'beautiful era'.
1918 - 30 Art Deco Jewelry
was a relatively short period in the history of jewelry. This was the "Roaring Twenties" and signified an overriding lust for life and the emancipation of women.
1930 - 1940s Antique Costume Jewelry
or Retro- modern jewelry of the 1930s-40s was jewelry to wear at the new 'cocktail' hour. Basically made for women to show off in. To be glamorous and razzle-dazzle with fascination and without formality.
Jewelry in the Future
OK, so we have discussed briefly, Antique Jewelry through History but what about the FUTURE for Jewelry? I mean, does it even have one?
Since 1918 few Jewels have been designed for court wear in any country and since 1939, even less. Adding to that is the fact, that for political and economic reasons, the West does not encourage the making of such splendid Jewelry anymore.
This is all good news for jewelry collectors, because it means that the fantastic Antique Jewelry - vintage engagement rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets of the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras which are rare and precious will become even rarer and more valuable as time goes on.
All the while, increasing in value in our own collections, or while we enjoy wearing them!
The future of Jewelry as an art-form is uncertain, but the History of Jewelry is set in antique wedding rings, antique diamond engagement rings and a treasure trove of incomparable jewelry and precious old gemstones for the antique jewelry connoisseur to admire and collect!
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