Designer jewellery is a unique creation largely fashioned through the combined crafts of metal-smithing and design. If you love fashion and all that being ‘in vogue’ means you will undoubtedly appreciate the beauty of designer jewellery. But where did designer jewellery originate?
It is believed that designer jewellery took off back in the days of Ancient Italy throughout Etruscan Civilization and that it was pretty popular in Ancient Greece and Rome too. In those early days of the trade a designer jewellery item was generally crafted in 24 carat gold. Today designer jewellery can be fashioned in al kinds of things from sterling silver to plastic. In addition to a gold collar necklace of yesteryear, a jewellery item can be produced using beadwork, lampwork, resin as well as photo jewellery. What is your favourite style of designer jewellery?
Arguably one of the world’s favourite jewellery companies is that of Tiffany’s. If you haven’t been to Tiffany’s you will recall the glittering shop window of the New York outlet in the famous Audrey Hepburn film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
Tiffany & Co, the world’s leading jewellery emporium, originated in the mid nineteenth century as a stationery and ‘fancy goods’ outlet. Founded by the American jeweller Charles Lewis Tiffany in New York City in 1837, the store is today infamous for its designer jewellery. There are Tiffany’s in all the top cities around the world including the earlier additions of Paris and London (in 1860 and 1868 respectively). Mr Tiffany’s son Louis Comfort Tiffany continued to design jewellery for sale in the shops as well as designing porcelain and bohemian glass.
Other famous jewellery designers who have supplied their craft to the world famous Tiffany’s include Elsa Peretti and Jean Schlumberger.
The Italian jewellery designer Elsa Peretti is famed for producing more understated and stylish pieces of jewellery and has designed a range entitled her ‘organic aesthetic’ range which have become some of Tiffany’s top selling items. Peretti’s jewellery is instantly recognisable with her ‘Round Pendant’ famously worn by the actress Keira Knightley on numerous occasions at various events.
The famous French twentieth century jewellery designer, Jean Schlumberger, is loved for his animal and sea creature designs. A much adored producer of elegant designer jewellery items, his famous clients included John F Kennedy, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor, Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn. You don’t have to be rich to afford designer jewellery but if you are, it helps!
