People have been wearing jewellery of some form since we first emerged and while styles have changed over the centuries, more people are wearing jewellery today than ever before. In this article, we will examine the styles of antique jewellery circa 1800 and the 19th century, which many believe to be the best era for jewellery.
Different Styles
- Georgian Jewellery – The Georgian period was from 1714 – 1840, which spanned the reigns of 4 Kings, George I, II, III and IV. Late 17th century France created a level of elegance and opulence that spread across the channel to England, mainly consisting of large precious stones with gold and silver. Aside from diamonds, emeralds and sapphires, semi-precious stones such as amethyst, garnet, topaz and citrine were used in the making of fine jewellery, with metalwork that was a larger proportion to the stones, and, of course, all hand made.
- The Teardrop Shape – This really took off during the Georgian era, as an emerging middle class desired to flaunt their wealth and jewellery makers where held in very high esteem all across Europe. If you would like to see a classic example of 19th century jewellery, take a look at the stunning antique earrings at Kalmar Antiques, a leading Australian antique dealer with many fine Georgian pieces.
- Social Functions – In the 19th century, the aristocracy craved social interaction and this led to an explosion of fashion, with elegant jewellery to match. The wealthy wined and dined in their castles and this created a demand for elegant jewellery, using gold, silver and precious stones, which became more elaborate as the century wore on.
- Closed Backs – When seating precious stones into jewellery, they were almost always closed at the back, as the jewellery makers of that time had yet to understand how light interacts with precious stones.
- The Mine Cut – The technology to create the brilliant cuts was in its infancy and most stones were mine cut, with the rose cut also used. A flat cut was often used, as you could not see the back of the gem and the flat bed sat nicely in the back.
- Popular Metals – The metals used to make Georgian jewellery was typically yellow or rose gold and silver, which was used to set diamonds and other precious stones. Silver was much preferred when setting diamonds and the trend for gold began at the start of the 20th century.
Looking For Authentic Georgian Jewellery
If you would like to view some authentic Georgian jewellery, search online for a leading antique dealer near you who would have a fine selection of treasured pieces, all at affordable prices. Most reputable online antique dealers belong to a nationwide network of dealers and that means they can source most things. Simply send them an image of something you are looking for and they can probably locate it, or simply a verbal description would be enough to locate the item.
Some of the finest antique jewellery circa 1800 was made during the Georgian era and if you would like to acquire some earrings or a necklace, search online for an established antique dealer.
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