Costume jewellery

Following the Great Depression in the United States in the late 20s and early 30s, most of the highly talented designers and craftsmen who had been working in the precious jewellery industry were made redundant, and moved across into the costume equivalent, taking their considerable skills with them. Significantly, this was at a time when trend-setting clothes designers such as Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Hattie Carnegie were promoting the idea, for the first time, that it was “cool” to wear jewellery made from non-precious materials.

The best-known example of a designer moving across is that of Frenchman Alfred Philippe, who c.1930 left the hugely prestigious precious jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels and joined Trifari – a New York-based company who rapidly became the United States’ largest and most eminent costume jewellery maker. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/2173/trifari-costume-jewellery-by-designer-alfred-philippe-is-a-good-investment.html

Quote about colour.

Repurposed necklace.

Jewellery design form the 1960's/70's.

   

  The Do-Your-Own-Thing credo of the 60s transformed the world of jewelry design by exponentially exploding the factor of individualism far beyond the parameters set in the 50s. Creativity expanded like matter from the Big Bang and filled the jewelry universe with legions of creative artisans marching to the beat of their own drums.

The Beatles become the bards and troubadours of the age, not to mention its most telling voice. Free Love, drugs, Hippies, student riots, psychedelics and war protests become the daily diet. Someone brings up the fact that smoking may be dangerous. http://www.antiques-art-collectibles.com/jewelry/1960_jewelry.html

Faux vintage pearl necklace.

Pearls are a classic, always elegant and stylish. We can't all afford real ones, but with these who would know. They are vintage. I am not sure what era they are from. They have a beautiful traditional style clasp which is engraved and features a single faux pearl. They are in good condition. There is a tiny bit of wear on very close inspection but over all look gorgeous. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication which is so true in the case of these stunning pearls.
Measurements: approx 24 1/2 inches in length from end to end. 

Recycled jewellery.

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/esanivintage

Silver vintage necklace - signed piece.

Pink necklace with Aurora Borealis.

Aurora borealis is the abbreviation for a special finish which was applied to rhinestones and beads in the early 1950’s to make them more radiant. The finish was given the celestial name Aurora Borealis, taken from the phenomena in the northern skies known as the Northern Lights. The same shimmering rainbows of color can also be seen radiating from a glass bead or rhinestone that has been treated with this now famous coating.
During the early decades of the 1900’s, in the era of Paris couture, Swarovski’s exclusive mechanical process of cutting and polishing crystal had a dramatic effect on design. The fashion world and crystal experts began a mutually creative cooperation.
In the mid 1950’s the designer Christian Dior turned to Manfred Swarovski, grandson of the founder, when he was looking for a new expression for crystal and jewelry to complement his New Look--exquisitely feminine clothes for the new woman of a new era. Where once chatons and fancy stones were popular suddenly cut beads became more popular.

http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/History-of-Aurora-Borealis-Jewelry-/10000000003914977/g.html

Trifari necklace