A Brief History.

Jewellery history and the giving of  Gifts, goes back many centuries, evolving from shells, animal teeth, and other objects used as adornment in prehistoric times. It started in Egypt, Italy, China and South and Central America approximately 5000 years ago.  In ancient Greece, beads shaped as natural forms like shells, flowers and beetles were manufactured on a large scale.  Beautiful and delicate necklaces and earrings were found in burial sites in Northern Greece.  By 300 BC the Greeks were making multi coloured jewellery and used emeralds, garnets, amethysts and pearls.   They also used coloured stones, glass and enamel.  Carved cameos of Indian Sardonyx (a striped brown pink and cream agate stone) along with filigree work were widely made.  Beads were made by joining two flat pieces and filling them with sand. The Romans continued these skills.

Over the centuries it came to be a sign of social or religious rank. In Renaissance Italy, jewellery making reached the status of a fine art with many Italian sculptors training as goldsmiths. From the 17th century the decorative function of jewellery again came to the fore, overshadowing its symbolic significance.

 By 1860, industrialization in Britain brought jewellery within the reach of the middle class by creating mass production processes. Changing social conditions and the onset of the Industrial Revolution also led to growth of a middle class that wanted and could afford jewellery. As a result, the use of industrial processes, cheaper alloys, and stone substitutes led to the development of paste or costume jewellery, a process that is still going on today. Victorian designs are similar as we have nowadays, mostly gold and diamond jewellery with rose and round brilliant cut diamonds, and cross, heart and snake motifs were popular. Victorian jewellers used to combine silver  with silver on the top to emphasise clarity of diamonds.

However, in jewellery design the focus was often on the past. Classical styles were popular, evoking the glories of ancient Greece and Rome. This interest in antiquities was stimulated by fresh archaeological discoveries. Goldsmiths attempted to revive ancient techniques and made jewellery that imitated, or was in the style of, archaeological jewellery. Alternatively,the Arts and crafts movement began as a reaction to mass-produced jewellery. Artistic style, individuality and philosophy were typical for adornments created by followers of this movement. Unlike the Victorian mainstream gold-diamond items, they used semi-precious gemstones and preferred cabochon cut rather than faceted stones. This movement gave birth to the beautiful Art Nouveau style, organic and nature motifs, stylish female figure and leaves motifs, and asymmetric designs dominated this style.

During the 1920's, the Art Deco style developed, featuring geometric shapes, linear design and bold patterns and colours.  Big, massive stones, surrounded by multiple diamonds set in yellow gold were popular during all the Vintage period. New materials such as plastic and bakelite were widely used in custom jewellery.

By the 1960's and 70's,  people preferred ethnic motifs, Eastern and Indian inspired design. Ornamental, folk-style adornments became popular. Colourful cabochon cut stones, silver and basic metals were used. Wristwatches became part of jewellery art.
       The 1980's brought another change of direction in design and fashion. The metal itself, not the gem stones, now played a major role. Link bracelets and chains with soft rounded geometry, twisted necklaces, all this in great Italian style, was popular along with power dressing. By the  1990's, white gold and platinum, white and black colour diamonds came to fashion. Delicate sized tasteful earrings and rings usually in white gold became common. However ethnic and Indian motifs came back ,especially in custom jewellery. Creative animal or fish figurines spread with small pave set gemstones usually in white gold were typical for this period.
          One word can define the jewelry of 21-st century; that word is 'eclectic'. All styles are acceptable, and are slowly coming back. Technology of rapid prototyping and 3d modelling allows a designer to create anything and reproduce it in metal. Custom jewellery reaches very high quality and low price. Look at our site www.myjewellerystore.co.uk for examples of unusual jewellery from some of the best known retailers in the UK!