Jewelry has been made in various forms since possibly the beginning of time. The oldest jewelry known to man are three shell beads that are between 90,000 and 100,000 years old. We don’t get to see anything this old unless it’s in a museum. Most of the estate Jewelry that is sold is from more recent periods. The periods that most estate jewelry is seen in starts with the Georgian Era.
The Georgian Era took place between 1714 and 1837 during the reign of the for Kings of England named George.
Cameos, intaglios, mosaic, acorns, the Greek key, Urns, Doves, Phoenix, and Wheat were all popular Georgian motifs. Some stones used during this period diamonds, foil backed diamonds, topaz, and garnets. Sometimes precious stones where replicated with glass also known as “paste”. The choice of metals used during this period was high carat gold and silver.
The Victorian period came next from 1837 to 1901. This was during Queen Victoria’s reign up until the time of her death. This Era was divided into several periods.
The Early Victorian-era jewelry featured love and nature-inspired designs, similar to jewelry of the Georgian era. “Paste” allowed more and more people to purchase and wear jewelry. The love inspired theme during this period corresponded to the love shared between Queen Victoria and her husband. Lockets and brooches were popular during the day, while colored gemstones and diamonds were worn during the evening.
The next period took place in 1856 to 1890. This was when the Queens husband had passed and more and more jewelry started turning dark. This jewelry was called “mourning jewelry”. These pieces where grand and featured heavy, dark stones including Jet, onyx, amethyst, and garnet. Hair was also used to make jewelry and is often found in gold lockets of this period.
The last period of the era was from the 1860 to 1901. During this period pieces where larger and more colors where being used. Some stones used during this period where amethyst, pearls, amber, carnelian garnets, turquoise, lapis lazuli, malachite, tortoise shell. More gem mines where discovered during this period that produced stones such as sapphire, peridot, tourmaline, spinel, and opal.
The next Jewelry period was known Art Nouveau and it took place between 1895 to 1915. This period often featured designs of dragonflies, butterfly’s, flowers and sensual long haired women. It is believed to have originated in Paris. Bright colors of Enamel where heavily used during this period. These pieces usually remind you of spring and romance.