The Victorian era is a treasure trove of inspiration for today’s jewelry designers. Among the jewels of that period were pieces that sent out secret messages through a shrewd selection of botanicals or gemstones corresponding to specific letters. Theatrical jewels recalled the past glories of civilizations such as ancient Egypt, spurred by society’s fascination with then-fresh archaeological discoveries. And of course, there was the dark allure of mourning jewels. For subtler twists, today’s artists can use darkened metals to pay homage to the blackened silver that was popular at the time, while cluster or rough rubover settings capture the period’s style perfectly. Flora, fauna and bow motifs also create touchpoints with history, as do materials such as enamel, onyx, old-cut diamonds, emeralds and seed pearls.
Image: Adobe Stock
Victorian Elegance
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