Art Deco Costume Jewelry

To understand Art Deco costume jewelry you first have to understand about when and why Art Deco came into vogue. It was during the 20's and 30's that a lot of change was happening. A new attitude was emerging due to technological and industrial changes and advances that were taking place. This new attitude was reflected in all walks of life including art, poetry, and yes, even our jewelry.

Technology advancements changed the way we looked at things, and that includes our art in it's many forms. Poetry for example became more direct. It was simple and clean with few word required to produce vivid images. Jewelry jumped on board, and Art Deco costume jewelry is, if nothing else, reflected in it's simple style.

Even paintings and images were going through a change, and again it was reflected in Art Deco jewelry. Think of Pablo Picasso here. The abstract nature of his paintings was also reflected in the jewelry of the time. Antique Art Deco jewelry is often characterized with bright colors and geometric shapes. The jewelry had a new look with a decidedly modern appeal.

How ironic is it then that as we became more complex, everything else became more simple. It's why this jewelry became so popular and why vintage Art Deco jewelry remains popular today. It's almost as if our lives are so complex that we don't have the time for more complex art. We don't want to read long lines of prose or carefully examine the finest details in our paintings. And our jewelry has much the same appeal.

It's bold yet simple. The stones are aesthetically pleasing. The jewelry is colorful and shines but is absent of detailed lines and frills. Someone clearly realized that if you have high quality gemstones and metals, they are good enough to stand on their own.

It's the simple look that makes these designs so obviously brilliant. They catch your attention immediately yet are easy to observe. If simplicity is what you like, then this is the jewelry for you.

Of course now as our lives grow even more complex, the appeal of Art Deco style jewelry is stronger than ever. And not just for every day wear but for special occasions as well. You'll even find Art Deco wedding rings. That right there should tell you just how appealing this jewelry really is.