Art deco designs ideas for modern jewelry
Modern design owes a lot to the period between World War I and II. Known as the art deco movement, design in this time relied on geometric shapes, botany, machinery and color to inform its unique brand of ornamentation. Though officially recognized to expand into the 1930s, art deco has since influenced mid-century modern design and movements reaching beyond.
Art deco concepts
World War I was a devastating blow to humanity's sense of infallibility. Where the Edwardian pre-war period boasted its wealth and peace, art deco remembered the pain of its first global conflict. In direct response to the floral, fluid concepts of the previous era, art deco designers created sharp lines with contrasting colors.
A good way to think about it is to compare ancient design. If the art nouveau and Edwardian sensibilities of the years before the war are to be compared to ancient Greece, then the art deco movement is Rome. Greek clothing, architecture and jewelry had a certain flow to it. Greece was ethereal, while Rome was sheer might. Roman design was about grandeur and presence. Art deco featured the strength of the Great War.
Jewelry of the era
The jewelry of the art deco movement relied on the same concepts present in architecture, furniture and other types of ornamental design. Pieces were geometric with bold colors. Common gems included white diamonds, onyx, sapphire, ruby and emerald. These stones were often paired in ways that contrasted with one another. For example, diamond and onyx, as well as ruby and emerald, were common pairings. Contrast could also be seen in design elements. While geometric shapes created the strong shapes of art deco, subject mater was often botanical. Flowers and vines were converted to appear boxy to give jewelry a natural and man-made affect. Platinum continued to be a popular metal, as its strength mirrored that of the industry of the time. There was no one popular diamond cut, but square shapes best represented the geometric style of the period.
Art deco in modern day
Much of the art deco movement can be found in modernist design. Sleek lines, geometric forms and botanical themes are all up for grabs. A good example of a contemporary piece with art deco features is the Four Square bracelet. The bold contrast of rings and squares in this piece exemplify the ideas of the time.
When creating a custom jewelry piece, choose large gemstones cut in square shapes. Emerald, asscher, princess and cushion are great diamond cuts to feature in your art deco jewelry.
