Fashion is something appealing to a lot of people. We have seen a lot of eras throughout the fashion industry, and one famous one is the Victoria era. It started and ended with the reign of Queen Victoria. No one ever gets 25 free spins no deposit poland without understanding the rules behind it. It is essential to understand the history behind the Victorian Era.
Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837 before she died in 1901. During this period, the world experienced many changes in several industries, including jewellery and fashion. The term "Victorian" broadly refers to the British culture and art unveiled in this period. We will explore the jewellery in the Gothic-Victorian style to understand the period.
Understanding The Victorian Period – Fashion For Jewelry
Horse-drawn carriages and candlelight characterize the Victorian period. However, it ended with electricity and automobiles. Historians usually categorize the Victorian era into three parts, including the Romantic (early Victorian), Grand (Middle Victorian), and the Aesthetic Periods (Late Victorian).
In this period, the fashion for jewellery had several metals, motifs, gems, and fabrication methods that rose and fell in terms of popularity. Nevertheless, some elements withstood the test of time and experienced some transformations. For instance, during the Romantic Period, hair jewellery was something familiar but became extinct during the Grand period.
The Romantic period started in 1837 and ended in 1860. It reflects the love of a young queen and her husband, Prince Albert. Nevertheless, the death of Prince Albert ended the Victorian period and gave room for the Grand Period.
Features of the Victorian Period – Jewelry
There was a significant surge in the Industrial Revolution in the early Victorian era. Factories opened in an unprecedented manner, with industries and trades flourishing. Furthermore, mass-produced jewellery was not made by specific people. It was a period when jewellery was sentimental and reflected a love for new couples.
During this period, most jewellers used 18k gold to create jewellery. Nevertheless, before the California Gold Rush lessened the shortage of gold in Britain, gold plating and lower karats were popular. In addition, Brooches fabricated had unique pins that extend through the brooch body. Fashion-wise, gemstones were set in claw-like prongs with metals encircling the gemstone's outer rim on jewels.
Common Gemstones And Processing Styles
In the Victorian era, jewellers utilized several gem materials. These materials include diamond, chalcedony, agate, amethyst, amber, quartz, turquoise, emerald, seed pearls, malachite, topaz, and garnet. Besides this, other materials available include tortoiseshell, lava stone, and ivory. Nevertheless, the most priced jewellery material was coral.
Furthermore, Gutta-percha, a sap obtained from a Malaysian tree, can be moulded to form durable pieces for jewellery. Because of the brownish to black colour of the material, most jewellers use it to create mourning jewellery. In addition, vulcanized rubber was utilized for other jewellery purposes. Various processes were used to achieve this in terms of gem-cutting styles for jewelry. The cabochon, old mine cut, and rose-cut process are the most common in jewels.
