Vintage earrings are a great way to add elegance and style to your outfits. They can be found at antique shows, arts and crafts markets, or even at local flea and weekend markets.
Earring styles can help give clues about the age of a pair, but metal content and construction should also be taken into account when trying to date them. Closure types like paddle back or simple clip are other important indicators when determining the vintage of a piece.
Antique Earrings
Earrings have been worn for centuries, a testament to their timeless style. Whether you prefer the subtle sheen of a pearl or the rich blue of sapphires, these classic gems will elevate any outfit.
In the Victorian era, large gold earrings were popular. The goldsmiths used rough cut gemstones like diamonds, aquamarines and emeralds or the more subtle purple almandine (a pseudonym for garnet).
This was also when the two stone earring became popular, with a smaller stone suspended from a larger one, a design that is still very relevant today. To find these antique pieces, visit a local arts and crafts market, flea market or weekend markets where sellers set up for short periods of time to sell their jewelry. These sellers are usually family-run and knowledgeable about their vintage jewelry inventory. Their relationships with their customers are important and this often translates to great customer service and quality. Also, look for estate sales where everything in the house is for sale and you can find some of the best deals on vintage jewelry.
Victorian Earrings
Queen Victoria ruled from 1837 to 1901, and her style influenced the jewellery trends of her time. After Georgian jewellery drew upon ancient motifs, Romantic Period styles featured symbols of love and nature such as hearts, hands clasped together like in a Claddagh ring, flowers, fruit, birds, serpents, cameos and vines. The style of acrostic jewellery (words spelled out with gems) became popular during this era.
After Prince Albert’s death in 1861, Victorian fashion veered towards Gothic and mourning jewellery. Black gemstones such as onyx and jet were used along with dark enamelling. Cannetille, the art of hammering malleable metal into intricate wire work patterns and shapes, also continued to be popular.
In the Late Victorian period, or Aesthetic Period, jewellery favored less elaborate designs and softer lines. This was seen as a rejection of new techniques that encouraged industrial manufacturing and in favor of more handmade pieces. These softer styles were precursors to the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau styling that would begin in the 1880s.
Edwardian Earrings
After the dour Victorian era, King Edward VII’s short reign (1901 to 1910) brought new life to fashionable jewellery. Floral motifs and lacy designs complemented chiffon gowns and the delicate up-do hair styles of high class women. Embroidery techniques such as filigree and millegrain were used to create a light, ethereal look.
Delicate openwork designs soon supplanted the simple diamond studs that had dominated at the beginning of the century. Long glittering earrings featuring miniature garland-style wreaths and pronounced central stones came into fashion. Fabric-like gossamer earrings also appeared in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Platinum paved the way for a new decorative technique called millegrain, which applied a border of delicate balls and ridges around a gemstone or on the edges of a design to create a lighter look. The style was also influenced by Art Nouveau, a curving aesthetic that focused on nature and craftsmanship. This light, feminine approach to jewellery lingered until the start of WWI in 1914.
Modern Earrings
Modern earrings can be found in styles that take traditional designs and give them a twist. From a simple diamond stud to a halo style that features a circle of smaller diamonds around a larger one, these new styles are designed to be versatile enough to wear for years to come.
You can also find contemporary earrings in a range of metals. Silver is often used in modern jewelry but you can also find gold styles that bring a vintage appeal to any outfit. These styles can be paired with other jewelry from the same collection to create a look that is truly your own.
When buying antique or vintage earrings, the style and closure type will offer clues as to when they were made. Use these as starting points, but be sure to look at other elements such as the quality of stones, metal content and construction and they type of back before making a final decision.
