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A Design is Forever: The History of Jewelry Design |  |
February 27, 2007
by Alayna Buckner
Design Programs Columnist
Around 100,000 years ago, people turned shells into beads, creating the world's first jewelry. Since then, jewelry has been created from every known material and for every body part. If you're considering fashion design school but want a specialty that's, well, special, think about jewelry design. The best fashion designers know that jewelry is every bit as important as clothing design.
Egyptian Gold
Elaborate gold jewelry was created in ancient Egypt. Gold was rare, didn't tarnish and was malleable enough to make bracelets, armlets, and head ornaments for Pharaohs.
Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, beads were shaped as shells, flowers and beetles. By 300 BC, the Greeks designed multi-colored pieces with gems, pearls, stones, glass and enamel.
Roman Jewelry
The Romans used 18 and 24-carat gold sapphires from Sri Lanka, emeralds, garnets, amber and Indian diamonds. Romans also imported fossilized wood called jet from England.
Centuries of European Fashion and Jewelry Designs
Medieval laws prohibited commoners from wearing luxurious jewelry or clothing designs. By 1630, pearls were fashionable, but only if worn excessively, and all accessories--from shoe buckles to buttons--were jeweled. Under Napoleon in the 1800s, coordinating jewelry sets called Parures were popular, with matching gems in bracelets, necklace, rings and earrings. Under Queen Victoria, jewelry was romantic and nationalistic. Rather than wear machine-made jewelry, women wore none at all, or bought from artisans.
Modern Jewelry Designs
In the 1920s, high-quality glass jewelry became fashionable. Fun, fabulous fakes were mixed with genuine gems by clothing and fashion designers like Coco Chanel. World War II brought a metal ration in Europe, so the US produced the most fashionable jewelry designs.
Jewelry and Fashion Design Schools
If you love beauty and couture but don't think fashion design school is for you, consider jewelry design. It's creative, detailed, and beautiful. And unlike Marie Antoinette's jewelers, today you can study it online, in the comfort of your own home.
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About the Author
Alayna Buckner graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Public Policy and Philosophy. Although not yet an owner of fine jewelry, she does love it!
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