Art Deco jewellery emerged at the 1925 Paris exhibition of Decorative Arts, at which only designs independent of the European historical tradition might be shown. It had a strongly geometric character, and used precious coloured stones, with back onyx, jade, amber, agate, jade and lapis lazuli in hitherto unknown combinations. With the exception of small round and baguette diamonds, all the stones were now cut in a variety of shapes to fit the design. Emerald cameos and quantitics of carved coloured stones from India gave an exotic touch. The slump which followed the stock market crash of 1929 meant that jewellers only survived by using cheaper aquamarines and citrines, though "all-white" diamond jewellery was adopted by the very rich. |
