THE LOOK

While this period saw clothing become streamlined and functional as more women entered the workforce during WWII, we also saw the opposite when it came to jewelry—there was a surge in the popularity of costume jewelry and big, bold pieces. For brides, feminine, organic pieces were favored (as were rough cut diamonds).

KEY PIECES

Photo lockets (they often had pictures of loved ones serving in the war inside), matching earrings and brooches, and bold, playful statement pieces.

THE LOOK

If the 1940’s were somewhat sparing, the 1950’s spelled glamour, luxury, and celebration. Stars like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor played up the opulence factor on-screen while women everywhere flocked toward fun, bright prints, beaded cardigans and larger than life skirt silhouettes. A bold red lip and winged eyeliner often completed the look.

KEY PIECES

Matching fine jewelry sets (called parures) were popular, as were Victorian-inspired flower and leaf motifs. Pearls also spiked in popularity.

THE LOOK

This decade is almost synonymous with free love, flower children, and pop art. We revelled in shorter hemlines, psychedelic and painting-inspired prints, and the brightest of brights, punctuating the look with pale, frosty lips.

KEY PIECES

Flowers, geometric shapes, and statement earrings reigned supreme, as did stacks of bracelets and rings. Yellow gold was at the height of popularity and so were colorful enamel.

THE LOOK

After the color explosion of the 60’s, we took a sharp turn to a neutral palette during the 70’s. Fashion and beauty both saw a renaissance of ‘au naturel’ and a resurgence of earthy, muted colors, flowy fabrics, and an almost bare-faced makeup approach.

KEY PIECES

Yellow gold keeps its hold (but now shows up as chains, tassels, and beads) and gemstones like turquoise, malachite, and lapis lazuli become popular and part of women’s signature styles. Beaded jewelry and bold pieces inspired by the disco lifestyle also take hold of our hearts.

THE LOOK

Bye au naturel, hello neon! Dubbed the decade of excess, the 80’s certainly had a “more is more” mentality. Look-at-me colors, big hair, broad shoulders, and mix and match statements dominate. In a couple of words: lavish and voluminous. 

KEY PIECES

Choker necklaces and cocktail rings were all the rage, and so were gemstone rings (Princess Di’s sapphire engagement ring set this trend on fire). Diamond prices skyrocketed, shifting the focus to pearls, colored stones, and smaller diamonds. This also made pavé and channel set melee designs popular.

THE LOOK

This decade was full of contrasts—grunge and glamour collided with a side of retro-inspired style. But most notably there was an air of minimalism. Certainly more low maintenance than the 80’s, it was all about spaghetti straps, crop tops, mini skirts, slip dresses, and looks influenced by music and Hollywood.

KEY PIECES

Jewelry stayed large and dramatic but had simpler flair—think a big pair of metal hoops. For brides, fancy-shaped solitaire diamonds saw a boost in popularity. This is also the decade that saw a notable rise in men’s jewelry, including chain necklaces and bracelets.

THE LOOK

With the world increasingly at our fingertips (hello, internet!), style becomes globally influenced and even more driven by celebrity fashion—think the ubiquitous, signature looks of shows like Sex and the City and Friends. It’s about being playful, on-trend, and even a bit flashy (courtesy of hip hop).

KEY PIECES

Diamonds, diamonds, diamonds—especially on hoops and showstopping engagement rings (princess cuts are especially popular now). Iconic pieces from this period include cuff bracelets, cocktail rings, layered chain necklaces, and chokers.

THE LOOK

Fashion is no longer the sole domain of celebrities—social media influencers are starting to dictate trends, too. The big idea of this decade owes its look to architecture, and was about focusing the eye on the architectural form of the body and contouring through makeup.

KEY PIECES

Delicate, layered jewelry dominates the style scene -- it's about mixing and matching metals and infusing neutral tones for a 'no rules' approach to accessorizing. This includes chain necklaces and stacks of rings, too. That said, there's still room for a bold embellishment here and there.

THE LOOK

We’re just inching into this decade but there are huge themes of body positivity and an embrace in diversity happening. We’re already seeing a style shift toward tiered skirts, two-piece formal looks, and novel new sleeve shapes. One of the biggest trends we’re seeing—styling out multiple ear piercings in new and unique ways.

KEY PIECES

Yellow gold is still on trend, including mixing and matching it with white gold, rose gold, or silver. With the advent of COVID and mandatory mask-wearing, earrings became the statement makers since they’re easily visible. Layered necklaces also helped put a polished look on work-from-home outfits during video calls.