| Egypt | | | | Woman rebelled by wearing no jewelry at all, or |
| The use of gold jewelry can be dated back to Egypt | | | | buying from the emerging artist craftsman. Some |
| 3000 BC. Gold was the preferred metal for jewelry | | | | jewelers like Tiffany recognized a niche market and |
| making during ancient times. It was rare, it was easy | | | | began to make fine jewelry of a very high standard, |
| to work with, and it never tarnished. | | | | opening shops in main European cities. |
| Magnificent bracelets, pendants, necklaces, rings, | | | | Mourning Jewelry |
| armlets, earrings, collars, and head ornaments were all | | | | During the Victorian era mourning jewelry was very |
| produced in ancient Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs. | | | | fashionable. The initial months of mourning were |
| In 1922 Howard Carter's excavations led to the | | | | unadorned by jewelry of any kind. As the mourning |
| discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and many gold | | | | rituals increased, mourning jewelry developed as a |
| artifacts, all showing the art work of ancient Egypt. | | | | fashion item. Queen Victorian wore a great deal of |
| Greece | | | | jet mourning jewelry after Prince Albert's death. |
| In ancient Greece, gold beads in the shape of shells, | | | | Jet from Whitby, North of England was set into |
| flowers and beetles were very common. In Northern | | | | mourning pieces. All types of material that were black |
| Greece beautiful necklaces and earrings have been | | | | were used and almost all included a lock of the dead |
| excavated from burial. | | | | loved one's hair. Hair was also plaited, braided or |
| By 300 BC the Greeks were using gems such as | | | | twisted very tightly until it became hard and thread |
| emeralds, garnets, amethysts and pearls. They also | | | | like. |
| created colored glass stones and enamel stones. | | | | Arts and Crafts Jewelry |
| Carved agate cameos and gold filigree work were | | | | During the 1870s the Arts and Crafts movement |
| widely made. | | | | evolved as a reaction to mass produced shoddy |
| Italy | | | | goods and inferior machine made products which |
| The Italian Etruscans produced granulated textured | | | | were a result of the industrial revolution. |
| gold work. They made very large, necklaces, | | | | William Morris and John Ruskin were both leaders of |
| bracelets and earrings. They were also known for | | | | the arts and crafts movement in England. They |
| producing hollow gold pendants that were filled with | | | | promoted simple Arts and Crafts of designs based |
| perfume. Even today the Italians are still known for | | | | on floral, primitive or Celtic forms worked as |
| the quality gold jewelry. | | | | wallpapers, furniture and jewelry. |
| Rome | | | | The polished stones used in Arts and Crafts jewelry |
| The Romans used 18 and 24 carat gold for their | | | | gave a medieval, simpler, gentler, tooled hand made |
| coins. Coinage gold was readily available so it was | | | | look and feel to items. |
| popular with craftsmen for decorative jewelry. Over | | | | Art Nouveau |
| 2000 years ago the Romans were using sapphires, | | | | The Art Nouveau followed the arts and crafts |
| emeralds, garnets, and amber in their jewelry. | | | | movement resulting in a new jewelry look. The |
| Europe. | | | | movement began in Paris and its influence went |
| During the 13th century the Medieval Sumptuary | | | | throughout the Western world. Art nouveau jewelry |
| Laws were enacted which put a cap on luxurious | | | | had curves, sinuous organic lines of romantic and |
| jewelry and clothing. The town folk of France, | | | | imaginary dreaminess. |
| banned from wearing girdles made from pearls or any | | | | It was very ethereal turning into winged bird and |
| other gemstone. | | | | flower forms. French, René Lalique was the |
| They were also banged from wearing gold or silver. | | | | master goldsmith of the era of Art Nouveau |
| Similar laws existed in England banning artisans from | | | | producing exquisite one off pieces. Today, the Art |
| wearing gold and silver. These laws show how fine | | | | Nouveau style is still admired, sought after, and |
| jewelry had spread beyond nobility to the town folk. | | | | copied. |
| For as long as mankind has existed gems and jewels | | | | Pearls |
| have been used as token of ones love for another. | | | | Various combinations of pearl necklaces come in and |
| While many pieces of jewelry existed adorned with | | | | out of fashion with regularity so pearls too are a |
| fine gems and made from precious metals, there was | | | | must. Today pearls are still a wardrobe essential. Both |
| also some very good fake jewelry. | | | | faux pearls and cultured pearls are very affordable |
| True gemstones and pearls originated in the east and | | | | today. |
| they were bought mainly by the Italians. The Italian | | | | Since the opening of trade with China in the 1990s, |
| merchants then sold the jewelry to the Europeans. | | | | many pearls are imported from China dropping the |
| High quality glass imitations were often used and sold | | | | price to about 1/3 of what it was prior to China |
| with the intent to deceive. These high quality glass | | | | entering the market. |
| stones were often used in the Royal funeral robes | | | | The Japanese have suffered disease in their pearl |
| and in children's jewelry. | | | | beds as well as facing competition and are finding it |
| Valued more than gemstones, were the flawless, | | | | hard to compete with China's prices. |
| round, natural white pearls. South India provided | | | | Pearl necklaces and pearl earrings can lift a |
| some of the finest pearls. The Italians were able to | | | | complexion and bring light and radiance to the face |
| make quality imitation glass gems and pearls that | | | | taking years off a woman whatever her age. They |
| could only be identified by a gemologist. | | | | have been a wardrobe staple for centuries, and a |
| There is historical proof that recipes for false pearls | | | | wedding attire tradition. |
| existed as far back as 1300. White powdered glass | | | | Cultured pearls have become very affordable, and |
| was mixed with albumen and snail slime to produce | | | | faux pearls are very cheap and the quality can be |
| imitation pearls. | | | | excellent. Currently Pearls are a very "hot" fashion |
| Earrings and Dress Jewelry | | | | statement and with the modern twist of being |
| During the 17th century woman always wore | | | | interspaced on gold wire or floating on special |
| earrings, whether they were dressed or undressed. It | | | | synthetic cord they are essential to the millennium |
| was very acceptable to wear faux pearls and paste | | | | look. |
| gem earrings during the day saving fine diamond | | | | Cocktail Jewelry |
| jewelry and gem jewelry for evening attire. | | | | During the 1920s Lalique mass produced and designed |
| Dress ornamentation decreased in size. Sleeves or | | | | high quality glass jewelry. Fake, or costume jewellery |
| skirts were often decorated with matching brooches. | | | | was sometimes then called cocktail jewelry. |
| During the 16th it was very fashionable to wear large | | | | Costume or Cocktail jewelry was greatly influenced |
| quantities of pearls. Both jewelry to clothing | | | | by designers such as Coco Chanel, and Elsa Shiparelli |
| accessories were adorned with pearls. | | | | as well as a host of other designers. These two |
| During the 17th century Jaquin of Paris patented a | | | | designers were particularly known for encouraging |
| method of making fake pearls. Hollow blown glass | | | | clients to mix their fine jewelry and costume jewelry. |
| balls were coated with varnish mixed with iridescent | | | | Both designers offered imagination and fun and both |
| ground fish scales. The hollow balls were then filled | | | | often sported fabulous fakes. |
| with wax to strengthen them. This discovery made | | | | In the late 1930s Napier of the USA was at the |
| Paris the main producer of faux pearls for well over | | | | forefront of manufacturing fake cocktail jewelry |
| 200 years. | | | | offer glamour and escapism. Today, Napier still |
| Paste is a compound of glass containing white lead | | | | produces excellent contemporary costume pieces. |
| oxide and potash. Paste jewelry was very common | | | | Hollywood Influence |
| in the later part of the 17th century. The highest | | | | By the 1940s and 1950s American culture was very |
| quality and most long lasting paste jewelry was | | | | dominant in Europe. The influence of movie films and |
| produced after 1734 by Georges Strass. | | | | the prominence of film stars set the fashion stage |
| Paris lead the production of faux gems [paste] and | | | | for womens make-up, hair and wardrobe. |
| faux pearls. Just about any kind of fake gem could | | | | People wanted copies of outfits and jewelry worn by |
| be made, including fake opals. | | | | the actresses. Women believed that the glamour of |
| After 1760 the production of fake jewelery spread | | | | Hollywood would rub off on them if they dressed |
| to London and to Birmingham. During the industrial | | | | and looked like the glamorous Hollywood actresses. |
| revolution steel was produced in large quantities so it | | | | During the Second World War metals were rationed, |
| was easily available. It was ues for setting marcasite | | | | halting the production of fine jewelry. Quality |
| and jasper ware cameos. Glass and Wedgwood | | | | costume jewelry picked up the now defunct fine |
| porcelain paste cameos were made in English | | | | jewelry market. Costume jewelry flourished becoming |
| factories and were also very popular. | | | | an acceptable alternative to fine jewelry. |
| The fashion from this era also included ornate shoe | | | | 1980's Television Influences Jewelry |
| buckles of paste, steel and tin, elaborate paste jewel | | | | During the 1980s with the evolution of glitzy |
| buttons, as well as semi precious for day wear. | | | | television soaps such as Dynasty and Dallas, costume |
| Empire Jewelry | | | | jewelry once again became a "hot" fashion |
| In 1804 Napoleon emerged as Emperor of France, | | | | statement. With over 250 million viewers, it didn't |
| resulting in a revival of jewelry and fashion as a new | | | | take long for costume jewelry to be reborn. |
| court of pomp. | | | | Glitz and sparkle by day was not only acceptable, it |
| 'Joailliers' worked fine jewelry and 'bijoutiers' used less | | | | became the norm. Earrings grew to an unbelievable |
| precious materials. | | | | size, as did other pieces of jewelry. By the 1990s this |
| The members of the new French imperial family had | | | | sparkly dazzling jewelry phenomena was dead, |
| the former French royal family gems re-set into the | | | | replace with tiny real diamond studs or a fine stud |
| latest neo-classical style. The new trends soon found | | | | pearls. |
| their way to Europe, particularly England. The main | | | | 21st Century Jewelry |
| influence for design was the Greek and Roman. | | | | For the 21st century women believe a mix is good. |
| Parures and Cameos | | | | Fine jewelry combined with costume jewelry are |
| Parures were a matching suite of coordinating | | | | wardrobe essentials. The sophisticated women of this |
| precious gems which could include a necklace, a | | | | century know what they want from their jewelry |
| comb, a tiara, a diadem, a bandeau, a pair of | | | | and how to wear it to make their fashion statement. |
| bracelets, pins, rings, drop earrings or and cluster stud | | | | They recognize that costume jewelry can liven up |
| earrings and possibly a belt clasp. | | | | their wardrobe. The types and quality of costume |
| A full parure consisted of a minimum of four pieces. | | | | jewelry has grown enormously. Today one can |
| A demi parure consisted of three or less pieces. Both | | | | purchase what is classified as fine costume jewelry |
| Josephine and Napoleon's second wife had | | | | which is usually plated at least seven times with 10 |
| magnificent parures. | | | | 22 ct gold. |
| Once Napoleon's cameo decorated coronation crown | | | | Swarovski crystal set in gold are common |
| was seen, cameos became the rage. Cameos were | | | | accessories, and cubic zirconium, man's imitation |
| carved from hard stone, conch shells and even from | | | | diamond, can be purchased for a fraction of the cost |
| Wedgwood porcelain. | | | | of real diamonds allowing every women to add |
| Victorian Jewelry | | | | diamond styled jewelry to their wardrobe. |
| In 1837 when Queen Victoria came to the throne | | | | Ciro, Adrian Buckley, Butler and Wilson, Swarovski |
| jewelry was romantic and nationalistic. It focused on | | | | Crystal Jewelry Napier, Joan Rivers, Joan Collins, |
| European folk art, which later influenced the Arts and | | | | Christian Dior, California Crystal, Property of A Lady |
| Crafts Movement. Until mid century most western | | | | and of course Kenneth J Lane to name just a few |
| jewelry came from Europe, with some jewelry being | | | | continue to produce high quality fashion jewelry for |
| produced in North America and Australia. | | | | today's women. |
| Mass production of mid Victorian jewelry in | | | | Costume jewelry can take you from the board room |
| Birmingham, Germany and Providence, Rhode Island | | | | to a night out of dining and dancing to your most |
| resulted in lower jewelry standards. Victorian women | | | | intimate evening. It can make you look your best for |
| rebelled when they saw some the poor quality of | | | | your wedding, or a day at the beach. You can make |
| much of this machine made jewelry. | | | | Your Fashion Statement With Costume Jewelry! |