1900s Jewellery

At the beginning of the 20th century, jewellery was still very understated and elegant – during the Edwardian period, many favoured simple pieces, such as gold longuard chains and pearl drop earrings.

Edwardian jewellery often featured intricate, floral designs, with garlands, bows, flowers and ribbons amongst the most popular motifs. In contrast, Art Deco jewellery featured geometric shapes, bold colours and streamlined designs influenced by the machine age.

In the early 1900s, jewellery was often crafted in gold and platinum. . The most popular gemstones used in 1900s jewellery were sapphires, rubies, emeralds, pearls and, of course, diamonds.

Famous 1900s jewellery designers include Peter Carl Fabergé, René Lalique and Suzanne Belperron. This was also the beginning of the century which saw the rise of prominent jewellery design houses such as Cartier and Tiffany & Co.

In the early 1900s, engagement rings often featured solitaire diamonds, or a small cluster of diamonds set in platinum. Edwardian engagement rings typically had intricate filigree or lacy designs, often featuring floral or ribbon motifs. The predominant diamond cuts were the Old European Cut and the Old Mine Cut, which has fewer facets than modern brilliant cuts but have a unique, romantic sparkle. Sapphires and rubies were also sometimes used as the centre stone in engagement rings during this time.

It has become increasingly popular to propose using vintage engagement rings in recent years. Not only is this more sustainable, owning a pre-loved engagement ring also offers you and your partner the opportunity to continue the story of a stunning piece of antique jewellery.

1900s jewellery – being more than 100 years old – is considered antique jewellery.