Jewelry trends and designs evolve over time. Often influenced by the signs of the times and creative genius, popular as well as unique metals and stones come into play. For those familiar with Art Deco Jewelry, you might find quite a few similarities in today’s modern assemblies. Art Deco jewelry design is defined: “by geometric forms and bold colors.” Diamonds, like today, were extremely popular as the centerpiece in the period and were often complimented by the bright vibrant colors of rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
History of Art Deco Jewelry Designs
To get a better understanding of Art Deco Jewelry a brief history lesson is in order. Imagine Paris, the romantic capital of the world. The “Roaring 20’s” where the war had since passed, life was celebrated with booze, jazz, and dancing along with enhanced technology, and a promising future. This inspired the birth of Art Deco. In simpler terms, Art Deco was purely artistic, without any religious or political influences. It was popular clear up until WWII, though it was never forgotten, it become a popular trend in the 1960’s and again in the 1980’s. Believe it or not, Art Deco pieces were inspired due to the increasingly big archaeological mile stones; King Tut’s tomb was discovered for example, and many pieces were reminiscent of ancient Aztec and Egyptian cultures.
Art Deco Jewelry Metals & Gem Stones
Platinum was also founded and used to capture the finest and boldest stones such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. The stones were cut with precision of that of octagons, trapezoids, elongated rectangles, and squares with rounded edges. Aluminum and platinum were popular as an inexpensive substitute, along with plastics and glass to substitute the precious stones. The jewelry was designed large and bold to steal the spotlight.
Hiring an Art Deco Jewelry Appraiser to Determine Value for Insurance & Other Purposes
But for those with authentic Art Deco fine jewelry pieces, looking for an appraisal could be a wise investment for insurance purposes, or for auctioning or selling. An appraisal is an educated estimate of value, calculated, researched, and formulated by an expert. Utilizing resources, testable and traceable methods to determine value, the appraisal is intended for a purpose, with an intended use. Many folks believe having an appraiser set a value is the same as making an offer to buy the item appraised. However, an appraisal is not an offer, just a researched expert estimate on the value of your item. To be a jeweler appraiser, there are certain credentials to possess such as; gemologist training, metal arts/bench training, jewelry background, and appraiser education. Brigitte Kruse has over 25 years of gemology field training and is one of the nations leading jewelry auctioneers! Throughout the appraising process, tools, equipment, and intense research are all part of determining value, depending on the Art Deco pieces and how many you are interested in getting appraised, will determine the length of time it will take for your written appraisal document. For insurance purposes, it is recommended to get the jewelry appraised every 3-5 years. Remember to get your jewelry cleaned every so often, and get your stones plotted or mapped to ensure no one can swap stones.
Art Deco & Antique Jewelry Appraisals in Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills, Palm Springs, Indio & Southern California
Whether you are looking to buy, sell, or insure, Brigitte Kruse Appraisal Services is experienced in Art Deco and other jewelry and can get your formal appraisal or online valuation done quickly and efficiently. Brigitte Kruse is proud to have over 25 years of gemology field training and be one of the nations leading jewelry auctioneers. Call us today to get started!
