Timeline

A Brief History of Jewelry

Point Cut Diamond

Early 1500s

The first faceted diamonds are used in jewelry. They are mostly point cuts along with some table cuts. Photo credit Victoria and Albert Museum.

Pompeii Excavation

1748

Although initially rediscovered in 1599, excavations of Pompeii did not begin until 1748. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD had preserved much of the city along with its inhabitants and their possessions, including art and jewels. The unearthing of these artifacts was a source of inspiration for the neoclassical design of the 18th century. Photo credit Victoria and Albert Museum.

Industrial Revolution

1763 - 1775

Although James Watt did not invent the steam engine, his experiments led to great improvements, and to the development of the Watt Steam Engine. His steam engine became the main source of power for British Industy and paved the way for the Industrial Revolution.

Victorian Period

1837 - 1901

Queen Victoria ascended the English throne in 1837 and became one of the most influential monarchs in terms of social custom and fashion. The beginning of her reign is known as the Romantic period, due to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. Jewelry design incorporated symbols of love, including flowers, snakes, and hearts. Gold was the metal of choice, hand formed into ornately decorated jewelry that demonstrated techniques ranging from chasing to repousse. Photo credit Victoria and Albert Museum.

Etruscan Revival

1860 - 1880

Etruscan revival jewelry was at the height of its popularity during the mid-Victorian period. Archaelogical excavations of the time sparked interest in ancient design and techniques. The Castellani firm was at the forefront of the revival. They made both exact copies of ancient pieces and their own designs inspired by and in the methods of antiquity. This diadem is a copy of an Etruscan original from 300-200 BC. The original is in the collection of the Louvre, Paris. Photo credit Victoria and Albert Museum.

Suffragette Jewelry

1909

Suffragette jewelry has become a coveted and collectible category of jewelry, but with much debate on what qualifies as authentic. This particular piece is one of surprisingly few that are indisputable. It was made by Ernestine Mills to commemorate Louise Mary Eates’ release from Holloway prison. The Suffragette Movement was important both in Great Britain and the US, from the mid to late 1800s through the early 1900s, as the vote was won by women in different locales. Photo credit Museum of London.

Art Nouveau

1890 - 1910

Inspired by the changing world around them, late 19th century artists wanted to create an entirely new language of design, ornament, and imagery. Many cultural forces converged during this period, including expanded trade with the East, backlash against mass production, and changing social mores. The Art Nouveau movement combined all of these, taking its name from Siegfried Bing’s gallery and shop named L’Art Nouveau, which opened in Paris in 1895. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

Tiffany & Co Six Prong Solitaire

1886

Tiffany & Company debuts their iconic six prong mounting. This Tiffany & Co ring is set with Kunzite, which was identifed as a new mineral by Tiffany’s mineralogist George Frederick Kunz in 1902. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

Ballets Russes Poster

1909 - 1929

The Ballets Russes company, based in Paris but originating from Russia, brought artistic creativity to new levels. It was groundbreaking in many ways, including the exotic and opulent costumes. The influence can be seen in clothing and jewelry fashion of the time.

Retro Moderne

1937 - 1950

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the jewelry industry was forced to adapt to the changing marketplace, and designers softened the rigid symmetry of Art Deco. In order to stretch their limited resources during WWII, metalsmiths alloyed low karat gold with copper or silver, creating soft rose or green toned gold. To compliment these shades, jewelers used a rainbow of colored gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, aquamarines, moonstones, and amethysts, highlighted by small diamonds. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

1500s

1500s

Rose Cut Diamonds

Diamonds begin to be fashioned with with flat backs and faceted tops.

timeline-1

Late 1600s

Brilliant Cut Diamonds

Diamonds are cut with pavilions, thus introducing the first brilliant cuts.

1769

Die Stamp Machine Patented

paving the way for more affordable and and accessible stamped jewelry

1795

Diamonds set à jour

Diamonds are set in open backed mountings.

1800s

1840

American Jewelry Manufacturing

Jewelry starts being manufactured on a large scale in the US.

1867

Diamonds discovered in South Africa

15 year old Erasmus Jacobs discovers the Eureka diamond, not realizing at the time that it is a diamond.

1877

Synthetic Ruby

Small commercial synthetic rubies are produced in Paris.

1880

DeBeers Established

Cecil Rhodes establishes DeBeers in South Africa.

1890

Hi Temp Torch

The introduction of new higer temperature torches enables jewelers to work platinum in their workshops.

1891

Electric Bruting Machine

The introduction of the bruting machine led to perfectly round diamond.

1893

Cultured Pearls

Mikimoto cultures mabe pearls. Round cultured pearls are introduced in 1916.

1900

1915

White Gold Patented

White gold becomes a popular substitute for platinum in the 1920s.

1919

Modern Round Brilliant

Marcel Tolkowsky details the cut and proportions of the modern Round Brilliant.

1948

“A Diamond is Forever”

DeBeers debuts their iconic diamond ad.

Present

Cheapside Hoard

1640-1666

The Cheapside hoard contains the largest collection of Elizabethan jewelry ever found, circa 1640-1666. The hoard was discovered in 1912 by workers demolishing a building in the Cheapside neighborhood of London. This neighborhood had been a jewelry center in medieval times. Photo credit Museum of London.

Memento Mori Rings

1661

This enameled gold memento mori/ mourning ring commemorates the death of Samuel Nicholets of Hertfordshire who died on 7th July 1661. The ring is hollow to accomodate a lock of hair which can be seen through openwork areas between the enameled skulls and coats of arms. Memento mori jewelry was popular from the 1500s-1700s, whereas mourning jewelry remained popular until Queen Victoria’s death in 1901. Death was commonplace, and memento mori jewels were designed to help the wearer to “remember you must die.” Mourning jewels served as memorials to individuals who had passed. Photo credit Victoria and Albert Museum.

Georgian Period

1714-1837

The Georgian period is named for the reign of the four King Georges of England and encompasses most of the 18th and early 19th century. Georgian jewelry is primarily constructed of gold and silver and set with diamonds, pearls, and colored gemstones. Diamond cutters perfected the first types of faceted gemstones, including Rose cuts, Table cuts, and Old Mine cuts. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

Crystal Palace of the Great Exhibition

1851

The Great Exhibition was the first international exhibition of manufactured products in Great Britain. It was conceived to introduce British design to foreign markets. In preparation, a competition was held for the design of the building to house the exhibits. The winning design, by Joseph Paxton, resulted in the magnificent Crystal Palace. Photo credit Victoria and Albert Museum.

Egyptian Revival Micromosaic

1869

The Suez Canal officially opens, sparking the Victorian wave of Egyptian revival jewelry. This bracelet centers a micromosaic depiction of a pharaoh created with tiny glass tesserae. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

Thomas Edison Lightbulb

1879

Thomas Edison files a patent for the first commercially viable elecric light bulb. This sets in motion the electrification of cities and then private homes. Photo credit The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Arts & Crafts

1860 - 1920

The movement was a direct response to the mechanization and poor working conditions of the Industrial Revolution. Spearheaded in England by William Morris, it promoted the beauty of handmade decorative objects, including textiles, furniture, metalwork, and of course, jewelry. Arts & Crafts adherents looked to the Middle Ages, nature, and popular folk art for inspiration, seeking to return to an idyllic time before mass production. The importance of workmanship and design over the intrinsic value of the materials was promoted. More readily available gemstones, such as garnet, amethyst, citrine, opal, and moonstone were favored over high karat gold and diamonds. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

Ford Model T

1908

Ford introduces the Model T, the first car produced for the mass market.

Edwardian

1901 - 1914

The Edwardian period is named for England’s King Edward VII, Queen Victoria’s oldest son, who ascended the throne in 1901. Edward and his wife Alexandra entertained lavishly and set many popular fashion trends. Like Victoria, Queen Alexandra loved jewelry and frequently bedecked herself in many elaborate pieces at once. Her preference for white jewels, primarily diamonds and ropes of pearls, spread to fashionable women of the time.

Art Deco Movement

1920 - 1935

A heady, celebratory air flowed through Europe and America after the end of the First World War. Artists strove to create a new vocabulary of design, displacing the naturalistic and historicist forms of the 19th century in favor of linear, streamlined shapes. In 1925, the new movement received its first showcase at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris. The Exposition introduced the new, modern aesthetic to the world and gave it a name, Art Deco. Art Deco distills design to its rudimentary geometry, eschewing unnecessary ornament in favor of clean lines and symmetrical shapes. Photo credit Doyle & Doyle.

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