| ge Jewellery during the Georgian period (1714 | | | | Victoria reigned from 1837 to 1901. This period |
| – 1830) | | | | witness highly significant changes in fashion, these |
| The Georgian period covers a period of British history | | | | changes directly influenced the world of vintage |
| which spans that reigns of four kings, George 1, | | | | jewellery. At the start of Victoria’s reign |
| George 11, George 111 and George 1V as Prince of | | | | during the late 1830’s, jewellery was romantic |
| Wales, during his fathers’, George | | | | and often, nationalistic. The general aesthetic led to |
| 111s’ illness. Vintage jewellery became | | | | the sentimental ‘early Victorian look’. |
| available and fashionable during the Georgian period. | | | | This look is given the label ‘Victorian’, |
| Vintage jewellery during the Georgian period was | | | | but is actually caused by the tastes of her husband, |
| used to simulate the real thing. Obviously this made | | | | and first cousin Albert. He was instrumental in the |
| expensive looking jewellery much more affordable. | | | | revival of the Gothic Style in Britain. The gothic trend |
| This was made practical as a result of improvements | | | | influenced the design worlds of both architecture and |
| in the manufacture of paste gems. These paste | | | | fashion. This in turn feed into the design of jewellery. |
| gems could be set into all types of good quality | | | | The middle years of Victoria’s reign saw |
| settings to give the illusion of precious jewels. | | | | great changes in the engineering. These rapid |
| Georgian and subsequent Victorian vintage jewellery | | | | developments resulted in the start of, what is now |
| pieces are the earliest examples of the vogue for | | | | recognised as the being of, mass production. This |
| costume jewellery that survives in any quantity. The | | | | change can be seen reflected in the fashion world. |
| difference being, that during the Victorian period the | | | | Gradually the craftsman jeweller was rejected for |
| vintage jewellery became unapologetically | | | | the more affordable, mass produced alternative. Until |
| semi-precious or non-precious in its sourcing of | | | | this mid Victorian period, most western jewellery |
| materials. Design of individual pieces gradually over | | | | came from Europe. As a result of the changes in |
| the two periods took precedence over the actual | | | | buying patterns and fashion, jewellery was soon to |
| materials used within them. | | | | be imported from the Americas’ and |
| The material pinchbeck, was used for the first time, | | | | Australia. Some jewellers, such as the American |
| as a substitute for gold for vintage jewellery. To the | | | | Tiffany began to expand so greatly that they open |
| non expert eye it is impossible to spot the difference. | | | | their own retail outlets in major European cities such |
| The metal is the same colour as gold but an expert | | | | as Paris, Barcelona, and London. |
| can distinguish it from gold by its weight. Pinchback is | | | | The dramatic change in jewellery, in particular, vintage |
| lighter than gold, it is made from a combination of | | | | jewellery, took place as a direct result of the change |
| Zinc and Copper. Although this was a common | | | | in fortunes of the Queen. In 1861, Prince Albert died, |
| material for use in vintage jewellery during this period, | | | | and Victoria began, what was to be, a protracted |
| few pieces of vintage jewellery created during this | | | | period of mourning. Initially Victoria’s mourning |
| period has survived to be admired today. Vintage | | | | outfits involved no jewellery of note. As the months |
| jewellery made from metal plated with gold is more | | | | of the change in her vestige drew out however, |
| common. You can see the difference between the | | | | more attention was paid to this aspect of her attire. |
| two by checking the item for any points of wear, i.e. | | | | Victoria started to wear mourning jewellery, gradually |
| edges and hinges. A genuine piece of pinchback | | | | as the months drew on these initially, mourning items, |
| vintage jewellery will be gold at all these points of | | | | became, fashion items. Whitby Jet, from the North |
| wear. Where as its gold plated compatriot will show | | | | of England being her personal favourite. Many |
| the underlying base metal beneath. | | | | examples of the trend can be seen today within the |
| Vintage Jewellery during the Victorian period (1837 | | | | resulting vintage jewellery of this period. |
| – 1901) | | | | |