Photo: VintageVenus.blogspot.com

Art Deco represents the era from 1920 to about 1930. And what happened before that definitely affected society, culture, architecture, art—and of course fashion. It was after World War I and after the Industrial Revolution. No longer was jewelry only worn by the highbrow and moneyed folks. Jewelry could now be mass produced, and now the middle class had full access. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings became less about value and price and more about expression and aesthetics.  Costume jewelry (faux jewelry) definitely had it’s heyday in the 1920s.

Photo: Julius Schorzman/Chrysler Building

Did you know that French designer Coco Chanel is credited as one of the inventors of costume jewelry? She created her first in 1924, with a pair of pearl earrings, one black and one white.

Costume jewelry was affordable because it was mass produce-able with a mix of inexpensive materials. After the industrial revolution, machines could do the work for you. Chromes, plastics, and industrial steels were taken out of the factory, and for the first time used for jewelry—making it affordable for all. Geometric and angular shapes dominated the jewelry trends (and architecture, e.g, the New York Chrysler Building) that mimicked the exactness of machine-made items.  Cocktail rings, long necklaces and cigarette holders and vesta cases like our Match-Safe Case Necklace were also  in vogue.

1928 Nightfall Jet Black Checker Necklace

The 1920s was about expression, transition into modernity, flapper girls—literally, the roaring twenties! Click on our Polyvore set below to see a few pieces from our collection that are very 1920s-esque. My favorite is the checkered earrings and the necklace above. Enjoy!

1920s Jewelry