Discovering Antique & Vintage Jewellery
involves unearthing the unique beauty and history of pieces crafted in earlier times.
“ It’s a journey through various styles and eras, each offering its distinct charm and aesthetic appeal. “
Much as we savour the distinctive eras of classical literature, fine jewellery carries its unique ‘era’ or design period. Whether it’s Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco or Retro, every piece in our collection has a special backstory. But remember, just as we move from one era to another, creative jewellery makers didn’t just forget the past.
Pieces that are over a hundred years old are often called ‘antiques’, while anything made before 1970, but not quite as old, is termed ‘vintage’. Each special era gives us unique and shifting designs, much like the ones we have gathered here.
First up, Read each section below more about the style and history of each era.
Georgian Jewellery
Georgian jewelry is a testament to an earlier era. These exquisite pieces were crafted with foil-backed gemstones set in mixed metals, and were designed to glimmer under candlelight. They were worn by the refined elite during dinner and drawing-room soirées, and were often created as sentimental keepsakes or as memento mori.
The fragile elegance of Georgian settings has given way to more durable contemporary methods, their distinctive cuts and styles continue to captivate aficionados of fine jewellery.
Victorian Jewellery
Victorian jewellery, originating from an era named for Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901, is famed for its distinctive styles, often inspired by the Queen’s tastes. Known for its richness and depth of symbolism, Victorian pieces showcased a plethora of themes – from nature-inspired motifs like serpents, flowers, and birds to more personal elements such as lockets and cameos, often used to signify love, memory, and devotion
This era is also noted for the use of various precious and semi-precious gemstones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls, which were meticulously crafted into intricate designs. The advent of the gold rush during this period also made gold a popular material for Victorian jewellery.
There was a considerable shift in design sensibilities following the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. The subsequent Mourning period brought about jewellery characterised by sombre themes and the prominent use of black materials like Jet and Onyx. Despite their age, Victorian pieces have retained their appeal and are highly sought after by collectors and fashion enthusiasts alike. The sheer variety and artistic breadth of Victorian jewellery make it a fascinating topic for exploration and an enduring symbol of the period’s aesthetic sensibilities.
Edwardian Jewellery
During the Edwardian era, which spanned from 1901 to 1910, the world of jewellery design underwent a significant transformation. The heavier, darker aesthetic of Victorian jewellery was traded for a brighter, lighter one, reminiscent of a platinum blonde transformation.
Edwardian jewellery often featured airy filigree work, intricately detailed designs, and mill grain decorations. These designs were predominantly crafted in platinum, a metal that was cherished for its strength and durability. The period marked a fondness for ‘white’ gemstones, with diamonds and pearls taking centre stage in most designs
However, Edwardian jewellery was not completely void of Victorian influence. Elements of whimsy from the Victorian era remained, and yellow gold wasn’t entirely forgotten. Yet, as the Edwardian period transitioned into the Art Deco era, designs continued to streamline and modernise, setting the stage for the future of jewellery design..
Overall, Edwardian jewellery embodies a sense of refined elegance and sophistication. It represents the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and innovative design – a key reason for its enduring appeal among jewellery connoisseurs and collectors alike.
Art Deco Jewellery
The Art Deco period, spanning the 1920s to the 1930s, marked a seismic shift in jewellery design. Entering the era of machines, Art Deco jewellery adopted a more modern, sleek, and streamlined aesthetic. Despite the starkly different influence, the grace and elegance of previous periods were not forgotten.
Art Deco pieces, noted for their bold geometric shapes and vibrant colours, often paid homage to the refined lines and forms of Edwardian designs. This fusion created a distinctive style – an aesthetically pleasing blend of past refinement and future modernity.
A prominent trend during this period was the use of contrasting colours, often achieved using diverse gemstones like rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. The jewellery pieces of this era mirrored the optimistic spirit of the time, reflecting the society’s eagerness to look forward and embrace modernity
Also notable is the influence of Cubism in Art Deco jewellery, visible in the angular, geometric designs that became popular. This led to an explosion of creativity, yielding designs that were truly avant-garde. In essence, Art Deco jewellery represents an exciting period of creative evolution in jewellery design, where tradition and modernity coexisted harmoniously, resulting in some of the most iconic jewellery pieces we know today.
Retro Jewellery
In the Retro era, spanning the 1930s to the 1950s, Hollywood glamour took a creative turn, shaped by wartime constraints that limited the availability of certain materials. Jewellers, undeterred, turned these limitations into an opportunity for innovation. They seized the streamlined forms of the Art Deco period, magnified them, and dressed them in bold gold! Retro jewellery can be characterised by large, audacious designs, often featuring oversized gemstones set in gold. The gold used during this period was typically rose gold, a blend of gold and copper that produces a warm, pinkish hue, which became a defining feature of this era. .
The sleek geometry of Art Deco designs transformed into curvier, more voluminous forms in Retro jewellery. Popular motifs included oversized bow and ribbon designs, flowers, and sunbursts, echoing the optimism and resilience of the post-war period. Simultaneously, the Retro era witnessed a shift in focus from the previously dominant precious stones – diamonds, rubies, and sapphires – to semi-precious stones like aquamarines, citrines, and amethysts, offering a wider colour palette and keeping costs more affordable amidst the war economy.
Retro pieces carried the glamour of the Jazz Age into the fabulous 1950s, creating a multitude of vintage jewellery motifs along the way. They symbolise an era of adaptation, resilience, and creativity, leaving a legacy of daringly glamorous jewellery designs.
Mid Century Jewellery
Mid-Century jewellery, which spanned the 1950s and 1960s, represents an era of vibrant variety. Much like the Victorians, mid-century jewellers revelled in a rich diversity of styles. Yet, they took it up a notch, accentuating their designs with audacious gemstones of all shapes, sizes, and colours.
This period saw a flourish of creative designs that harked back to earlier eras, yet boasted a modern flair to match the optimism of the post-war world. Jewellers ingeniously updated traditional themes with a contemporary twist, often incorporating bold, brightly coloured gemstones, abstract shapes and experimental materials. Notably, this era saw an increasing interest in bold cocktail rings, chunky bracelets, oversized pendants and statement earrings. Colourful gems like turquoise, amethyst and garnet became widely used, offering a rich colour palette that reflected the flamboyant spirit of the time. Designs were not only dictated by fashion but also by the cultural movements of the time, with abstract and organic forms becoming increasingly popular.
Transitional pieces of this period seamlessly bridged the stylistic gap between the early and latter half of the 20th century. They combined the glamour and elegance of earlier eras with the bold, confident aesthetic of the Mid-Century, capturing a fascinating snapshot of the evolving trends in jewellery design. This innovative fusion of past and present ensured that Mid-Century jewellery left an indelible mark on the history of jewellery design.