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| Elizabeth Garvin |
Jewelry is very much a reflection of the times in which we live. During the Edwardian era, it was all about lacy, open platinum pieces because the technology was developed to work with the metal easily. Collar necklaces were all the rage because Queen Alexandra wore them to cover a scar on her neck. The Art Deco era was influenced by the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamen and new, faster modes of transportation. The 1940s were known for big, gold pieces with colored gems. Then, for a while, jewelry became rather generic. But that has changed. The past few years have seen a dramatic shift in the look, feel and style of jewelry. With the hiccups in the economy, designers have had to create jewelry that is beautiful and wallet friendly. This has brought about a hugely creative period. Jewelry right now has a unique, distinctive look that will tell the story of the time in which it was made — a time when people want to be understated, yet still glamourous. It is a time when unexpected materials — opaque diamonds, diamond and colored gemstone slices, gray diamonds — have taken on new importance. New metals such as palladium are being explored. Silver has marched to the forefront as a more desirable metal, allowing designers to make big pieces that show off their art without breaking the bank. It all adds up to more interesting jewelry being available, adding excitement to the industry once again. It’s jewelry that tells the story of a time when creativity was essential to success.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - November 2012. To subscribe click here.