ART DECO
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Buying and selling Art Deco jewelry is one of our greatest passions. Let us know what you want. You’ll be surprised at what we can source or custom design, and at exclusive prices! In this Art Deco Guide, you’ll find a brief overview of the Art Deco Movement, one of our favorite jewelry styles.
A glamorous fusion of elegance and modernism.
Art Deco jewelry emerged in the 1920s and 1930s as an exquisite expression of style. Designers defined the movement with sleek lines, geometric shapes, and a striking blend of traditional and modern materials, transforming the world of jewelry in the process.
This period invites a closer look at its origins, defining features, notable designers, and famous examples that reveal the enduring allure of Art Deco jewelry.
The Art Deco movement began in Paris after World War I and rapidly spread across Europe and North America. It reached its peak during the Roaring Twenties and continued to shape fashion throughout the 1930s before gradually fading after World War II.
Art Deco jewelry embodies a distinctive aesthetic marked by bold geometric patterns, symmetrical compositions, sharp angles, and clean lines. Designers drew inspiration from diverse sources, including ancient Egyptian motifs uncovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb, African tribal art, and modernist movements such as Cubism.
Art Deco jewelers actively experimented with materials like platinum, white gold, diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, often pairing them with vibrant gemstones such as coral or lapis lazuli. They also embraced unconventional materials like lacquer and enamel, using them to introduce vivid color and contrast into their designs.
Major Art Deco Designers
- Coco Chanel (1883-1971) was known for her avant-garde approach to fashion and design aesthetics. She introduced innovative styles in Art Deco jewelry, using bold geometric shapes and luxurious pearls.
- Rene Lalique (1860-1945) was a revolutionary French designer renowned for mastering glasswork. Lalique’s creations featured intricate details inspired by nature, such as flowers or feathers, set within precious metals.
- Cartier, the iconic French luxury brand, played a significant role in popularizing Art Deco jewelry worldwide. Cartier pieces often showcased contrasting colors through delicate arrangements of gems within platinum settings.
Famous Art Deco Examples
- The Duchess of Windsor’s Panther Bracelet: Crafted by Cartier in 1952 for Wallis Simpson (the Duchess), this stunning piece features onyx spots adorned with diamonds against yellow gold. It became an emblematic symbol of elegance.
- Van Cleef & Arpels’ Zip Necklace: Created in 1951 by Van Cleef & Arpels for the Duchess of Windsor, this unique necklace ingeniously combines functionality with glamour. It resembles a functioning zipper worn around the neck.
- Jean Després’ Cubist-inspired Bracelets: Jean Després was recognized for his bold use of geometric forms evoking Cubist art movements while incorporating precious metals such as silver into his distinctive pieces.