The types of jewellery we see in our daily lives that are studded with precious stones actually first took shape thousands of years ago. The beautiful artefacts created by our ancestors were probably not only for wearing, they often had deeper meanings than we know. In modern times, people’s choices have expanded. The jewellery world is full of not only avant-garde and novelty jewellery, but also vintage style jewellery that can satisfy people’s diverse needs.
If you are interested in antique jewellery, then congratulations on reading this article. We are going to take you into the world of vintage jewellery, that world is full of brightly coloured and lustrous jewellery. There you will learn a lot of interesting facts about antique jewellery. Let’s go together when you are ready.
What period is the oldest surviving jewellery from?
Jewellery has been manufactured for more than a hundred years. Antique jewellery that is still intact today dates back as far as the Stone Age. This is the earliest connection we can find between modern man and his ancestors. These antique jewellery have come to us over thousands of years. Some of the antique jewellery shops in the market also have some treasures on display, so if you want to collect rare pieces from a bygone era or have some curiosity about ancient history, these antique shops have a full collection for you.
What were the materials used to make jewellery in Ancient Rome?
In Ancient Rome, jewellery was usually made from precious metals such as gold and silver, so it could be designed in very extravagant styles. Ancient Roman jewellery represented the status and wealth of the people of that period. Common types of jewellery included hairpins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, and other bracelets, which were usually inlaid with a variety of brightly coloured gemstones, such as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. To give the jewellery more character, craftsmen would use engraving tool to beautifully carve the area around some of the gems, creating intricate and beautiful textures. Bronze, glass, ivory and even leather can be used as carving materials. Certain motifs were carved not for aesthetic purposes but for practical use, such as rings to stamp documents and brooches to hold clothing in place, both of which were used in everyday life. These jewellery designs have been popular since ancient times and one can’t help but marvel at the level of artistic creativity of the ancients.
Gorgeous jewellery made famous in Ancient Egypt
When it comes to fashion jewellery making, you can definitely trust the aesthetic taste of the Ancient Egyptians as this is what they were best at. During the Ancient Egyptian period, precious stones were made into beautifully designed headdresses, necklaces and other jewellery accessories, with the most popular stones being lapis lazuli, carnelian and turquoise. In order to procure these precious gems, they usually had to travel across the entire desert. The polished natural gemstones take on a dazzling luster, and if you look at the coloured resins in which they are set with a stereo microscope, you will see a sharp contrast between the two. This hard-to-ignore contrast will inadvertently take us back to a time when beauty and elegance were within reach. Thankfully, these precious artifacts have survived, giving us a glimpse into the ancient Egyptian quest for refinement in the craft of jewellery making, guiding modern jewellery design towards a better future.
Cut diamonds come into fashion
During the Renaissance, a new style of cut became popular in jewellery making – the rose cut, where the diamond is cut flat at the bottom and flower-like at the top. When looking at a rose cut diamond from directly above, you will notice that there are approximately 24 triangular facets, which are arranged in concentric circles. The hallmark of this faceted technique is that the light that shines on the diamond is evenly dispersed around the stone, creating an eye-catching sparkle. Although the rose cut is no longer as eye-catching as it was when it first appeared, as cutting techniques and styles have progressed and a great variety of cuts have appeared, there is no denying that it is still an example of a delicate and elegant cut.
What are the characteristics of Victorian jewellery?
Victorian jewellery is characterised by the Victorian-style floral motifs carved into each piece of jewellery. The jewellery was carefully designed and carved, crafted from gold and silver and set with precious stones such as emeralds and diamonds. All these factors add up to create the unique and timeless luxury of Victorian jewellery. There is no hiding the unique and elegant sparkle of Victorian jewellery. This explains why the wearer of Victorian jewellery is always noticed at all kinds of gatherings.
Why was Art Nouveau jewellery so popular?
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, a new style of jewellery gained popularity, which became known as Art Nouveau jewellery. Unlike traditional jewellery, this type of jewellery was extremely curvaceous and asymmetrical in design. The designers of this jewellery wanted to emphasise the idea of a unique and natural design. This concept has made Art Nouveau jewellery popular especially among people who already admire natural beauty and soft aesthetics.
To sum up
Antique jewellery is the source of inspiration for all those times, has a charm that modern jewellery cannot match, and is truly timeless jewellery that deserves to be handed down from generation to generation. In order to pass on these antique jewellery pieces in a better way, many jewellery shops have introduced antique jewellery restoration services and are calling attention to the preservation of antique jewellery.
