Are you familiar with the fine Edwardian jewellery trends of the Edwardian époque? Vintage jewellery has never ceased to impress women, particularly the exquisite pieces worn during the reign of King Edward VII.
Given the extravagance of balls and soirees organized in this period, it was common for high society members to wear delicate, luxurious jewellery in the form of tiaras, vertical rings, long necklaces, lightweight earrings, and fine pearls.
Edwardian jewellers are praised for their subtle techniques, as well as the attentive selection of materials and gemstones. People fond of vintage adornments can purchase Edwardian jewellery from one of the few shops in the UK that offer collections of antique accessories.
Learn more about the distinctive features and types of accessories in the reign of King Edward.
Characteristics
Fine Edwardian jewellery is still considered remarkably appealing due to its elegance, delicacy, and the use of valuable materials like platinum and precious diamonds. The combination of white metals and gemstones has resulted in the creation of intricate pieces inspired by the trends in the eighteenth century.
Apart from diamonds – sapphires, rubies, and emeralds have been used to decorate pieces. But their use is less common. The more colourful the gemstone, the scarcer the details. For instance, diamond rings have a plethora of hand-crafted details. However ruby rings lack decoration because of the vivid colour of the gems.
In terms of techniques, jewellers in the Edwardian époque used filigree and milgrain to create vintage-looking necklaces, bracelets, brooches, earrings, and rings. The filigree technique was practised in the crafting of earrings and tiaras, abundant in lace-like decorations.
Despite their large size, Edwardian earrings were as light as a feather. This enabled women from this era to look sophisticated while feeling comfortable. The curved lines of these jewellery pieces contributed to the subtleness and elegance of every lady who wore them. Read more about the ornamental nature of the filigree technique.
Moreover, the milgrain technique with French origin was particularly fashionable in the course of the Edwardian era. Craftsmen employed this unique technique mainly in the design of rings by adding a myriad of metal beads to decorate the border.
In terms of material, platinum made a boom in the Edwardian ere. It was previously thought to be inferior to white gold. However once the craftsmen from this historic period got to know platinum’s real worth, they used it to experiment with jewellery designs.
The lightweight nature of platinum has proven to be valuable in the use of the filigree technique. This allowed jewellers to demonstrate the power of their imagination. Women who were bold enough to wear platinum jewellery were considered modern and willing to keep up with the newest styles.
Diamonds were unquestionably popular in the Edwardian époque, generally used in the creation of engagement rings. These rings are recognized by the huge diamond placed in the centre of the ring, complemented with the presence of tiny diamonds or sapphires in vivid colours. Go to the following link, https://www.brides.com/gallery/vintage-engagement-ring-trends, to check out some of the most popular vintage engagement ring trends.
Long earrings
The Edwardian era is known for the trend of wearing long earrings with miniature details. Unlike the large-sized earrings from previous époques, these pieces of jewellery caused no discomfort in ladies. Their lightweight allowed women to wear them on balls and dinner parties that lasted for hours without feeling any kind of burden.
The greatest thing about fine Edwardian jewellery earrings is their ability to turn even the plainest outfit into a majestic look. The chandelier earrings were designed for women looking for uniqueness, allowing them to stand out from the crowd.
Vertical rings
Jewellers during this era experimented with the traditional shape of rings by designing models with a vertical form. The purpose of vertical rings was to enhance the elegant style of these pieces of jewellery, as well as use the power of innovation. Women became bored with traditional rings and expressed an interest in wearing something more glamourous.
Additionally, vertical rings were best suited for women whose fingers were long enough not to be entirely covered by the accessory. The selection of such rings ranged from simple to luxurious models. The former were made solely from platinum, using no diamonds as ornaments. In contrast, the latter were designed with a combination of at least two gemstones.
Tiaras
Edwardian tiaras were remarkably popular in this era, designed to be worn at glamorous balls and parties. These pieces of jewellery were designed with lace-like ornaments and sparkling diamonds. Women in this époque wore tiaras with a few diamonds on normal occasions, whereas elaborate tiaras were saved for special events.
Pearls
Believe it or not, pearls were considered more valuable in comparison with diamonds during the Edwardian era. Wearing pearls was interpreted as a sign of high social status, such as using a couple of pearl strings to form a necklace.
Nevertheless, jewellers from this period loved to combine pearls with diamonds, striving to make these combinations as subtle as possible. Many Edwardian earring models fuse the beauty of both types of jewels while looking elegant.
Necklaces
Unlike necklaces in the Victorian era, those in the Edwardian period were much less conservative. Collars ornamented with gemstones were particularly popular, along with long necklaces that reached the waistline. It was also normal for multiple strings of pearls to be wrapped around women’s necks.
Diamond engagement rings
Engagements rings are one of the most prominent jewellery pieces from this period, available in a variety of forms and sizes. These were made from both platinum and white gold, depending on the preferences of ladies. Regarding details, these accessories were either simple or had ornaments in the form of flowers and lace.
Furthermore, it was common for diamond rings to contain multiple diamonds, of which the one in the centre was the largest. Instead of tiny diamonds to be used for decoration, some ladies preferred emerald, ruby, or sapphire.
Final word
Vintage accessories will never lose their charm.
These are timeless, delicate, and well-crafted!
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