Edwardian Jewellery,Edwardian Era Jewellery

Antique jewellery has been something that has captured the imagination and fascination of people all around the world. Jewellery making as a craft has been coveted since ancient times. In more recent times jewellery making and the importance of a jeweller improved greatly since the Victorian age when jewellers themselves came to be much appreciated for their efforts in creating the best quality jewellery with the most artistic and imaginative designs.

However the period after the Victorian age, that is the Edwardian age came to be known as the Gilded age for the way art, craft and culture flourished throughout this age.

Edwardian jewellery was characterized by the unique techniques for manufacture and the skilled workmanship that went in making such jewellery. Edwardian pendants were popular during the time and made by using gold alloy or even platinum. The Edwardian necklaces were of very astonishing design. One of the more popular ones was the one which had two drops of varied hanging from a central element.

Some pendants and jewellery from the Edwardian age had a distinct influence of Indian jewellery making styles. Queen Alexandra apparently liked Indian jewellery so much during her visit to India that the royal jewellers began imitating some of the designs while other jewellers sought to combine the style with the Victorian style of jewellery making.

While jewellery was usually more of a symbol and sign of high status in society, it doesnt mean that those from the lower strata did not wear jewellery. Most jewellery at that time was expensive and luxurious, but more affordable varieties were also made during that time. Some of the alloys of gold were prepared in order to cut the cost factor involved in making jewellery thus making it more affordable than the platinum ones that were the most common ones during that phase of British history.

The Edwardian silver brooches, the gypsy ear rings, simple bangles and many more such pieces of jewellery came to be for the non affluent middle class as these jewelleries too gained much popularity at the end of the Edwardian era. Jewellery designs are much more bold and in your face today and have lost some of the subtlety that characterized jewellery making in the Edwardian era.

The importance of the maker has somewhat diminished with machines being preferred to the hands of a jeweller. However the idea behind jewellery remains the same. It is still a mark of high status and affluence