Jewelry styles are as diverse as the people who wear it. As is the case with apparel, often, jewelry styles are categorized as belonging to a specific era. If you have an affinity for, or have lived through a particular time period, you may or may not have an appreciation for that style. Most of us associate different decades of our lives with clothing styles, such as the hippie or bohemmian look of the sixties, where tie-dye and love beads were the rage. if you were a child of the seventies, then you may have sported bell bottom jeans or wore your hair “feathered back,” in homage to everyone’s favorite poster girl at the time, who was one of the stars of a popular TV show. The eighties graced us with designer jeans and big hair. The nineties? I have only one word: Grunge. Cringing yet?
Jewelry styles, like fashion, has its time periods as well. Nowadays, it is popular to characterize the work of a designer or artist as having a particular “esthetic,” which is a way to describe in general terms the attributes most favored by the artisan in the design or craft of their products. Some of the terms used may be familiar, and are evocative of specific qualities or traits that make a jewelry piece instantly recognizable. Other terms are more nebulous, and are open to interpretation. I’ll begin by describing one of those.
The terms “contemporary,” or “modern” usually refers to a jewelry style that is of the moment. It may not necessarily mean what is trending, but it does point to jewelry that is current. Since what is happening now is fluid, and every moment is a new “now,” describing jewelry as contemporary doesn’t typically bring to mind a singular attribute or feature that would be emblematic of today. However, anything described as modern or contemporary may still share characteristics of older examples, especially since style is cyclical.
Vintage, on the other hand, does have a specific meaning. Vintage jewelry is jewelry that is 20 to 50 years old. It’ doesn’t have to be distressed,, or look old, but it is definitely reminiscent of a period at least two or more decades past.
A piece of jewelry that is described as “vintage-style” is not 20-50 years old, but it may have been designed to appear that way. It could have been made yesterday, but metal treatments, finishes, or oxidation may be applied to give the appearance of age. Use of components recycled from existing jewelry is common, or the design may be a blatant copy of an older original.
The word “retro” is used to describe jewelry that is associated with a very specific time period. A popular watch brand that everyone was wearing in the seventies might be called retro. Huge hoop earrings are sometimes thought of as retro, because they have been popular on and off in various decades past. Remember the mood ring? Retro is a style that is easily identifiable, because you could point to an object that is perfectly representative of everything you associate with a particular time period, and say: “OMG, that is so 50’s,” or whatever.
Art Deco refers to jewelry that belongs to the period of the 1920’s and 30’s. Like the style of architecture of the time, art deco is characterized by bold lines and geometric shapes.
Again, art, architecture, and fashion were influenced by another specific time period, the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, during the art nouveau period. Art nouveau jewelry mimics the popular art of the time, which featured free-flowing natural elements, stylized flowers and other natural forms.
Organic is another jewelry style that takes its inspiration from nature and natural forms. Organic jewelry can be amorphous and freeform, with flowing curves and irregular surfaces, just like in nature.
If you love classical music, then you probably love compositions from the Baroque period. Baroque art is characterized by intricate details, curves and swirls and ornate embellishments. The only time I have ever seen jewelry I would call Baroque was in a museum.
Antique jewelry is a category all its own. Often imitated, or crafted in the “antique style,” a true antique piece of jewelry is 100 or more years old. Chances are, if you have a piece of jewelry that is a genuine antique, it was passed down through your family and is considered a treasured heirloom.
There are many more styles of jewelry, but these few are probably most familiar. Jewelry styles such as “steampunk,”Victorian,” “minimalist,” or “Edwardian,” and others will be the subject of future posts, but I’ll stop here for now. Do you have a favorite style of jewelry that has become your signature? Whatever style you love to wear…sparkle on!
Laura