Estate Jewelry

Estate in the term Estate Jewelry does not refer to jewelry coming from the estate of the deceased but refers to the fact it was previously owned.

Periods of Estate Jewelry:.

Periods that are usually included in
Estate Jewelry are  Early Victorian
Mid-Victorian, Late Victorian,
Art and Craft era,
 Art Nouveau, Edwardian,
 Art Deco and Retro.





Georgian Jewelry 1714-1837
Georgian era jewelry is very rare and handmade. Often featuring nature inspired designs such as leaves and birds and frequently includes precious stones, Memento Mori Jewellery was also popular at the time featuring skull motifs and coffins.

Early Victorian, Romantic Jewelry 1837-1855
Like jewelry of the Georgian era early Victorian era jewelry features nature inspired designs. Freauently, these designs would be delicately and intricately etched into gold. Lockets and brooches were popular everyday jewelry during the early Victorian era whereas colored gemstones and diamonds were worn during evening.

Mid-Victorian, Grand Jewelry 1856-1880
Because the Grand or Mid Victorian era corresponded with the death of Queen Victoria husband many jewelry pieces have soleman grave designs. Known as mourning jewelry the pieces feature heavy dark stones. Jet onyx amethyst and garnet are frequently found in jewelry from this period more colorful designs were found using shells mosaics and gemstones and some would argue more creativity to the design process was applied.

Late Victorian aesthetic Jewelry 1885-1900
During the Late Victorian or Aesthetic period, jewelers used diamonds and feminine, bright gemstones such as sapphire peridot and spinel. Star and crescent designs as well as elaborate hat pins where also popular. Some scholars believe the aesthtic era began sooner in 1875 and ended as early as 1890.

Art and Crafts Jewelry 1894-1923
Due to the Industrial Revolution, many jewelry designers rebelled duriong the Arts and Crafts movement, returning to intricate jewelry designs and handmade craftsmanship. It was common for jewelry of  this era to be simple  in pattern, made of colorful, uncut stones.

Edwardian Jewelry 1901-1915
The Edwardian period started with the decease of Queen Victoria and her son Edward became king. During this period expensive many of the Edwardian designed incorporates, more expensive gems such as diamonds emeraids and rubies in their elaborate designs.

Art Nouveau Jewelry 1898-1915
Art Nouveau jewelry features natural designs such as flowers and butterflies and were generally considered romantic Art Nouveau was a style popular from roughly 1895 until World war I. The movement actully began around 1875 in Paris and its influence went throughout the Western World. The movement eventually died out by the end of World war I but has since continued to be revived throughout the contemporary ages. Art Nouveau jewellery follows curves and naturalistic designs, especially depicting long-haired sensual women some times turning into birdlike or flower like forms.