Time Periods
Edwardian
c1890 - 1910
During the final years of Victoria's reign her influence on fashion, and especially jewelry began to diminish. The influence of her son Prince Edward, and his devotees, became more prominent. Victoria died in 1901, leaving the throne to Edward. His reign, though short, had a fashion all its own.
The Victorians had primarily used yellow gold and in their jewelry. Due to the proliferation of electric lights, and lighter fabrics and fashions, the Edwardians preferred the look of white metal. Their first choice was silver, usually with a gold backing to enhance the value of the piece, as well as, to keep tarnish off their clothes. With the development of the hotter jewelry torches, the relatively unknown metal platinum became the metal of choice. The tradition of backing the pieces, even those made of platinum, with yellow gold continued up until about 1910, and helps to identify Edwardian pieces.
Edwardian jewelry is characterized by light and open filigree work, the use of many small diamonds (primarily from the South African mines), soft pastel colored stones, pearls and opals.
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