Jewelry Style Timeline Styles & Periods

Jewelry Style Timeline Styles & Periods

Here is a nice article on the timeline of different styles periods of jewelry - from Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco & Retro.


VICTORIAN 1830's to 1900's

Nature was a source of inspiration for Victorians in the form of flowers, lovebirds, animals, and insects. Good luck symbols are found in clovers, horseshoes, and other symbols like hands, snakes, love knots, and crosses. Motifs include stars, crescents, slides, tassels on pins, fleur d'lis, stick pins, bracelets, lockets, and pocket watches Cameos.


ART NOUVEAU (1895-1915)

Nature motifs, including flowers just budding or in decay, which symbolized the energy and dynamic forces of nature. This nature motif also included animals, snakes, and birds, such as peacocks. Gone were the static Greek and Roman images found in Victorian cameos. They were replaced by women with flowing hair, sensual and passionate.


EDWARDIAN (1890-1920)

Edwardian motifs included garlands, bows, tassels, bar pins, tiaras, lavalieres, sautoirs, and multiple strands of seed pearls in choker length called dog collars. Many of the bar pins have a two-tone look - with a white metal top and yellow gold bottom.

ART DECO (1920-1935)

Unlike the Edwardians, this period's artists were seeking chromatic contrasts; thus, materials included diamonds matched with primary color gemstones like sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. Marcasite, glass beads, and even plastics appear in this period. Egyptian jewelry appeared & geometric designs.


RETRO (1935-1955)

Motifs include bows, ribbons, flowers, birds, patriotic themes, clips, large floral sprays, and suites of jewelry. Jewelry of this period was a combination of Art Nouveau's curves with the simple look of Art Deco but in a bigger scale.