This era was one of the longest in history, over 120 Years. The reason it lasted longer than the other eras in history is because the styles just didn’t change all that much during these years. The pieces were yellow or genuine silver with foil backed diamonds, pearls, sapphires, rubies, topaz, and garnet. These days it is hard to find jewelry pieces of this era as most are in museums.
True genuine Cameos continued to be very popular at this time as they were in the 16th century. During that time, Cameos were used to give style of people of importance. In 16th-century England, cameos were made with the head of Queen Elizabeth to celebrate the victory over the Spanish Armada. In the 18th,19th centuries, cameos was part of belts, brooches, and bracelets.
After the war, cameos were made of plastic making them accessable to everyone which helped the cameo persist through the generations.
With this new distinction between day life and evening life came a new divide between what was considered to be 'day jewellery' and 'evening jewellery'. During the daylight hours it was more common to spoil yourself with brightly coloured gemstones and pastes (garnets, differently coloured topaz, emeralds and rubies). The fashion was for extravagance and abundance, with as many items of jewellery worn at once, like multiple large gemstone rings on each finger. When it came to evening wear however, diamonds was more a choice if had.
The preferred style of necklace evolved from ribbon style chokers to more extravagant and sparkling necklaces full of jewels.
When it came to earrings, Giranadole was the most popular style in the early Georgian era. In 1773 came the invention of clip on earrings so that ears did not necessarily have to be pierced to wear with jewels.
A variety of gemstones would usually make up a ring. Often, they would consist of one main bright stone surrounded by a multitude of smaller diamonds. All away around, the bands full of gemstones, either the full way around or just halfway, would be worn stacked up on fingers.
Unusual Jewelry
For Sentimental jewellery was also very fashionable during the Georgian period. Lover’s eye lockets were exchanged between couples, each one with a small design of one of the pairs’ eye painted onto the locket. Also, Mourning jewellery was added, which was used to memorialise the dead was of a similar aesthetic and this style later evolved into rings, such as skulls and skeletons.
Rings were the most common type of jewellery; they would have a line of gemstones, the first letter of each gem spelling out a word, most commonly a name or sentiment.
This definitely gives an insight how much jewelry has made such an impact from earliest generation. Sometimes, it makes you wonder the creativity, and craftyness in such handmade gems.
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I live in Cilaire and I love vintage art. I would love to see some of your work. Is it possible to visit and view. I am not a fan of online shopping. ☘️🅱️