Fashion Jewelry - From Crisis to Revival

The Great Depression of 1929 shook not only the stock market but also the world of high-end jewelry; yet, the desire for beauty, glamour, and luxury did not disappear and found new ways to be expressed.

The world of fashion jewelry – inexpensive metals, colorful crystal stones, and enamel. Women sought to brighten their lives during a time of austerity. Hollywood provided inspiration – Greta Garbo and Joan Crawford wore sparkling, impressive fashion jewelry, turning them into a symbol of hope and glamour.

During World War II, precious metals were requisitioned for the war effort, and designers such as Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, Miriam Haskell, and others designed fashion jewelry, works of art that radiated glamour and luxury, their value measured by style, imagination, and originality rather than the material itself. Thus, the years of crisis and war became one of the most prolific and daring periods in the world of design in general and the world of jewelry in particular.