Old souls, new tricks
The past is a funny thing. Humans like to pretend to ignore it while almost everything they do is based on past events. Some people look at our televisions and cell phones and see everyone so engrossed and complain about this generation’s unique obsession with technology or entertainment, as if previous generations weren’t keen to play the phonograph or go to the opera. As much as we might try to pretend otherwise, some things about human nature are innate, and some things are bound to return, or better yet, be “rediscovered” by a new generation. Appreciation of beauty and the unrelenting pursuit of it is a fundamental human behavior, and this is particularly evident in jewelry. Both vintage and retro style jewelry give us a window into the past, putting ourselves in the shoes of those who came before us and connecting with our history. Oh, and it looks fantastic too. Because true beauty never fades.
Vintage style necklaces: the Victorian style
If you think necklace layering is a modern innovation, think again! Since the beginning of time, women have sought to maximize their glamour by layering gorgeous necklaces, carefully selecting different lengths to accentuate the stunning uniqueness of each layer. Like all things fashionable, this preference for the layered look has flourished and declined over time, but experienced a major revival during the Victorian era. If you search the Internet for early photos of Victorian women (especially royal women), you’ll see heaps of dazzling necklaces, layered to perfection. Historical fashion icons like Denmark’s Alexandra combined dog-collar-like diamond necklaces with flawless strands of pearls and precious gemstone pendants, and posed for photos with the same elegance as modern fashion influencers.
If your goal is to emulate this vintage appeal, then investing in a classic set of perfect pearls is a great place to start, such as Mikimoto’s Mikimoto Graduated 8.5 x 5.5 mm 18/20-inch A1 Double Chain 18 Kilogram Pearl Necklace. This Mikimoto pearl necklace features a double strand of perfectly round, smooth and lustrous A1 Akoya pearls – considered by the jewelry community to be the “Rolls-Royce of pearls” – and the top strand of the Mikimoto vintage-inspired necklace is 18 inches in length, which sits right on top of and around the pearls. around the pearl. The neckline is hollow, while the lower chain is 20 inches long and sits closer to the sternum. By creating a double-chain necklace, Mikimoto brings your layering sensibilities to a vintage-inspired necklace design, making it easy to layer the rest of your necklaces Take a page from Alexandra’s book and pair this timeless beauty with a necklace or collar necklace for the ultimate classic-meets-modern look.
Ever watched a historical drama like The Crown, Victoria or The Greatest Showman and swooned over the stunning gem-encrusted necklaces worn by royal women? These formal necklaces are called “Princess Necklaces”. Princess necklaces are between 16 and 18 inches in length and, as the name suggests, reflect the gorgeous, ornate style of the royal family, often featuring gem-encrusted elements that meet in the center of a large pendant. Vintage-inspired necklaces such as these often incorporate vibrant pops of color into their exquisite designs, resulting in enticing, colorful pieces such as Jye’s Ruby and Round Diamond Halo Pendant from Jye’s International.Crafted from 18k white gold, this vintage-inspired necklace from Jye’s International is set in a sparkling 1.42 Crafted in 18k white gold, this vintage-inspired necklace from Jye’s International features two diamond swirls on each side of a sparkling 1.42 carat pear-shaped ruby pendant. 0.79 carat round diamond swirls meet in the center of the princess necklace, creating a protective diamond halo around the ruby focal point that contrasts with the stone’s deep red hue. You could say we’re envious of this radiant ruby necklace.
Vintage-inspired earrings: the romance of the Renaissance
From the late 1790s to the early 1830s, excavation sites across Europe began to uncover artifacts hidden since the 14th century. In long-forgotten cities, in broken houses and villas, early archaeologists stumbled upon everyday objects such as pottery or furniture, as well as valuables such as crowns, sterling silver and, of course, jewelry. When diggers found these hidden gems and studied them closely, they realized they had not only found Renaissance objects, they had discovered them. Their discoveries also led them to even older artifacts dating back to the first few centuries BC. The jewelry they found revealed goldsmithing and jewelry techniques that were thought to have disappeared with the passage of time. This ushered in what antique jewelry experts call the “Renaissance Revival” and the “Archaeological Revival”. Think of the costume designs of period pieces such as the Tudors and the many adaptations of Jane Austen’s works. While the costumes were completely different, the jewelry had the same Renaissance (or Renaissance Revival) feel, as the style of elaborately grained and ornately carved jewelry was striking, dazzling, and most importantly: timeless. The impact of these movements completely reinvigorated Italian goldsmithing and Italian fine jewelry design.
It is in this environment of rediscovery and return to the roots of jewelry design that Mario Buccellati, the newest member of the Buccellati family of jewelers, has honed his craft. Mario Buccellati, who grew up in Italy after the production boom brought about by the Neo-Renaissance movement, established a distinctive look that still defines the brand today.Buccellati’s vintage-inspired jewelry showcases the best of the historical renaissance style, reflecting multiple layers of history and culture, all expressed through impeccably hand-carved motifs and cameos. Take the Buccellati Opera dangle earrings from the Opera collection. Inspired by the Italian Renaissance, the floral motif of these two-tone 18k yellow gold and 18k white gold earrings is repeated throughout the collection, where symmetry and perfection reign supreme. The flowers themselves are set with an abundance of pavé diamonds, designed to give a “royal look” to these vintage-inspired earrings. Hand-engraved rigato detailing adds dimension to the 18k yellow gold accents at the center of the dangling earrings, while the delicate 18k white gold wreaths fan out in an elegant arch, repeating the Florentine leaf motifs so common in Renaissance art.
