Styles

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Art deco- (1920~1930) BOLDNESS, SYMMETRY AND GEOMETRIC SHAPES. During this period women began wearing their hair short and boyish. Influenced by the two previous period, Art nouveau and Edwardian, Art deco jewelry often has free flowing curves and naturalistic motifs and replaced them with symmetrical theme. Egyptian influences were strong and popular motifs were falcon, sphinx and falcon.

Art Deco Movement and Designs
Example of Art deco jewelry

Art Nouveau-(1890-1915) Free flowing Asymmetrical lines, nature and myth. Art Nouveau is French for 'new art' expressive, imaginative. The most common motifs in jewelry were orchids, lilies, irises, ferns, snakes, dragonflies, animal and human forms. Notable artists are Alfons Mucha and Rene Lalique.
Art Nouveau Artists and History

Victorian- (1837-1901) FEMININE AND ROMANTIC. Victorian period follows the reign of Queen Victoria in Great Britain. Queen Victoria's love for family reflected jewelry to a romantic and sentimental outlook. Design themes were borrowed from natural origins, flowers, trees, insects and birds. Opals were popular as Queen Victoria adored them.

Edwardian-(1901-1910) Intricate, airy and feminine. Edwardian style jewelry is intricate works that accentuates feminineness. Platinum was used extensively as the strength of platinum made to produce pieces that are thin and open work designs. Fine filigree work that resembled lace with millgrained setting was popular during the period. Strength of platinum make to produce pieced that are thin and open work designs. Knife edge band was first introduced in this period.

Retro (1935-1950) - Big, Colorful, Whimsical and bold This was war-time in Europe and America when platinum was being used for the war effort and was not available to jewelers.  In result, gold regained popularity, different colors of gold such as Rose gold and Green gold were admired to many people in this period.  Retro refers to the golden age of Hollywood glamour jewelry, and oversized and dramatic styles represent it.  Colored gemstones were used widely especially rubies and sapphires. 

Renaissance-rebirth or revival, Renaissance jewelry is characterized by rich color and by sculptural or architectural design.  The best known jeweler in this period is Benvenuto Cellini.                                                                                                                                                     

Modern-recently developed or advanced style.  Tension and invisible settings are modern techniques that make the design clean and simple.   

Contemporary- contemporary style jewelry refers to simple, and minimal decorations.  invisible setting, clean line, minimum decoration

Rustic- rustic styles often have coarse, rough, hammered textures and worn down look.

Abstract-abstract style often refers to the asymmetrical shapes that look as if it contains little or no recognizable or realistic forms from the physical world. Focus on formal elements such as colors, lines, or shapes. Objects often "abstract" objects by changing, simplifying, or exaggerating what they see. It has few recognizable images with great emphasis on line, color, shape, texture, value; putting the expression of the feelings or emotions of the artist above all else.

Organic- Organic style often have shapes having none of the geometric angularity associated with other shapes such as squares, triangles, rectangles, etc.. Organic shapes are fluid and often are associated with things that occur in nature.

Natural- Natural style incorporates realistic nature objects into design elements.