{"id":375669,"date":"2020-01-07T12:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-07T12:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.antiquejewellerycompany.com\/?p=375669"},"modified":"2024-12-10T17:45:20","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T17:45:20","slug":"a-guide-to-mid-century-jewellery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.antiquejewellerycompany.com\/a-guide-to-mid-century-jewellery\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Mid-Century Jewellery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Taylor all epitomise the indulgent femininity that typifies the 50s trend. As a new wave of starlets emerged with more glamour and glitz than ever the jewellery had to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the war well and truly over, women’s fashion was allowed to grow softer and more feminine than the practicality of the 1940s. The 50s fashion was for a bold hourglass silhouette – wearing a tight bodice, d\u00e9collet\u00e9<\/em> neckline, and full skirt. This look emerged in 1947 at the hands of Christian Dior who labelled it “The New Look”. This “new look” needed new jewellery to suit – with a similar mix between boldness and curved femininity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

M<\/strong>aterials: diamonds are 50s jewellery best friend<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the worries of wartime at a safe enough distance, spirits soared and so to did the economy. The 1950s saw the return to expensive materials such as platinum and diamonds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

De Beers successfully set their hooks on the newly prosperous middle class. They were clever enough to focus on more affordable designs with smaller diamonds. The famous De Beers ‘A diamond is forever’ campaign made its mark and a whole new variety of women now adorned themselves in diamonds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Marilyn
Jewellery: Mid Century 18ct White Gold & Platinum, Ruby & Diamond Cluster Ring; Mid Century 18ct White Gold Diamond Drop Night & Day Earrings. Image: Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes 1953 (Cornel1801) <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another champion of the diamond was Harry Winston. He produced delicate designs that focused on the precious gemstones. Winston achieved so much success that he was even mentioned in Marilyn Monroe’s anthem ‘Diamond’s Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ – “talk to me Harry Winston tell me all about it”.<\/p>\n\n\n