Fashion
has changed immensely since the start of the 20th century, and that includes
jewellery. Many exquisite jewellery designers though are still as popular today
as when they first came on the scene, and you can still purchase their designs at
specialist shops and antique stores. Below you will find some of the most
famous jewellery designers from this era that may have you falling in love with
the designs from yesteryear.
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Cartier
Cartier
is a name that is still synonymous with high-end fashion today, and Cartier was
known for using a wide variety of precious metals and gemstones in jewellery
design. There is no type of jewellery they did not master, and the earlier
jewellery designs are valuable, which makes them also highly sought after by
collectors.
Cartier
created everything from affordable centrepieces for the dining room table to
exquisite one-of-a-kind designs for royalty across the globe. If you are
looking for Cartier inspired style of jewellery, you can start looking at the
reputable shops or dealers online where most collectors go to buy antique engagement rings
and other pieces of authentic antique treasures. These stores will often have
jewellery designs such as Cartier’s, which are excellent for popping the
question to your loved one.
Boucheron
Boucheron
started gaining attention for their beautiful jewellery designs in 1858, but it
was not until the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels
in Paris in 1925 that they hit the mainstream. It was the birth of the Art Deco
movement, which heavily influenced jewellery design in this period.
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The
jewellery design they are famous for in this era was a bracelet that was
adorned with sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, that were arranged to imitate
bubbles floating on water. Set against a background of enamelled rods and
having diamonds along the edges made this piece stand out and was also the
catalyst for Boucheron becoming one of the best jewellery designers in this
period, and it was a massive hit at the exhibition.
Boivin
Jeanne
Boivin took over her company
after her husband died in 1917, and it soon became one of the leaders at the
forefront of the jewellery and fashion industry. One of the most famous pieces
the company designed was a starfish brooch that they completed in the 1930s and
was designed by Juliette Moutard.
Claudette
Colbert purchased the brooch after her movie “It Happened One Night” won an
academy award in 1934, propelling her to the height of stardom. The beautiful
brooch was made from gold, rubies, and amethysts and featured in the magazine
Vogue an unprecedented four times between 1937 and 1945.
Jean Dunand
Jean
Dunand was another designer from the Art Deco period, and he would design
decorative arts, create portraits, and make exquisite jewellery. He worked on
some high-end projects, including decorating rooms with lacquer on luxurious
cruise ships, such as the Normandie.
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When
creating a portrait, the subject would often be wearing some of his jewellery
designs, which was an excellent way to advertise at the time. He embraced
modern design while incorporating luxurious materials into them and soon became
a name synonymous with beautiful jewellery.
There
have been many excellent designers throughout the 20th century, and these are
just a few of the best. If this has piqued your interest in jewellery from this
period, visit your local antique jewellery store and see what pieces are
available that were most likely inspired by one of the jewellery designing
greats.
