Mid-Century Curiosities (1950s)
By the 1950s the wartime years were well and truly over and spirits were high, despite the slow recovery of wealth. While still bigger, bolder and more colourful than the pre-war era, jewellery took on a lighter tone, along with women’s fashion.
1950s designs reflected the growth of the upper middle class and the return of expensive materials such as platinum and diamonds.
Large, colourful gemstones surrounded by diamonds and long strings of real pearls were a popular choice for those who could afford them, while costume jewellery became more sophisticated to meet the demand of the masses and it could be hard to pick out the fakes.
