The Art Deco Era has many unique names according to the person you are talking with and exactly what you are talking about, such as the Roaring Twenties or the Jazz Age. This was the time in history when many changes were taking affect in the United States. During this time, women received the right to vote, prohibition, mob activity, cocktail parties, and new art forms were developed.
This era was unlike any other that brought drastic change to America in the fashion industry. Women began wearing shorter length dresses, which were straight and created with thin fabrics with dropped waists. New hairstyles were created such as the bobbing of the hair, makeup was worn in public, and smoking by women was done in public. In addition, more skin was shown with low cut necklines, sleeveless blouses, see through areas on the clothing, and backless or practically backless dresses.
Because of this new trend, jewelry changed as well. Women desired all kinds of new trinkets such as jeweled cigarette cases, cigarette holders, jeweled handbags, and makeup cases. Platinum began being used more often and new stone cuts were available such as the emerald cuts, marquises, and pear shapes.
Since the lifestyle of the Art Deco era was more bold and daring so was the jewelry. Many of the jewelry items formed geometrical shapes, wild colors, and of course, the more jewelry worn the better.
Jewelry was created with all the precious stones and metal of the past however, new trends involved paste, coral, crystal, and onyx. In addition, many precious and non-precious gems or set side by side in the same jewelry piece.
Long strands of beads, pearls, and pendants, which hang all the way to the waist, were very popular especially among the Flappers.
The bangle bracelets were often not left to dangle but were pushed high up either on the arm and straight line bracelets were the most popular singly or in multiples.
Motifs seen during the Art Deco era included cubism, geometric designs, abstract designs, oriental art, Aztec art, Islamic designs, architectural designs, and florals.
The most common metals and stones during this time were diamonds, rubies, sapphires, rock crystals, carnelian, onyx, chrysoprase, marcasite, jade, ivory, amber, Mother of Pearl, Platinum, white and yellow gold.
Costume Jewelry was also very popular and was created with unique materials such as glass, horn, bone, paste, glass, chrome, synthetic gems, Tortoiseshell, and plastics.
Men were not left out during this era. The cufflinks, tie bars, and tiepins were often adorned with the same artistic style seen in the jewelry worn by women. The money clips were created often times with white gold with a simple engraving studded with a single cabochon cut gem. Along with this since smoking was an in thing, many men carried a cigar cutter or lighter in their pocket.
Rudolph Valentino, the famous film star of the time, set the standard for men when he popularized the wristwatch. These wristwatches were created from platinum, white gold or yellow gold and many were adorned with diamonds, triangular cut sapphires, and other cuts of precious stones. Pocket watches were soon to be a thing of the past.
All good things must come to an end and with the beginning of World War II so ended the Art Deco era.
[...] that enjoy collecting antique rings will generally find rings that come from the Art Deco, Victorian, and the Edwardian era. When you have an antique ring that is genuine, it is one that is [...]