The 1950s were an era of transition where the world was trying to rid itself of the heavy shadows of war and step into a decade filled with glitter, glamour, and a new tide of fashion. This era, which is often referred to as the “Fabulous 50s,” didn’t only show feminine fashion resurgence but also became a time when jewelry became a true statement of luxury and style. Today, many of our favorite celebrities continue to rock those vintage vibes that prove that true style is ageless. Let’s take a stroll through the glittering world of mid-century jewelry and meet some celebs who never stop showing off their antique pieces.
The Bold and Beautiful 50s: The New Era of Glamour
After the frugality of the war years, it was back to opulence in the 1950s. Women’s fashion now adopted a softness, embracing curvy, hourglass silhouettes truly inspired by Christian Dior’s “New Look.” With bodies taut and décolleté necklines and full skirts, it was now time for bold statements of jewelry to complement the style.
This decade showed the return to the use of expensive materials like platinum and diamond, signaling a return to wealth and prosperity. De Beers, always the quick marketer, struck while the irons of affluence were hot with their prosaic “A diamond is forever” campaign. This clever move made diamonds more mainstream as the middle class grew, and suddenly, women everywhere were adorned with glittering gems.
Harry Winston is another giant in the diamond industry, famous for his light designs showcasing precious gemstones. His success was so deep that he earned a mention in Marilyn Monroe’s famous tune, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” It was also that era wherein jewelry wasn’t just to complete an ensemble but a status symbol, a symbol of wealth, and basically feminity.
Iconic Designers and Jewelry Houses of the 50s
Paris remained the center of haute bijouterie, supported by such legendary houses as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Sterlé. These giants reworked their previous pre-war designs to be even bolder and more colorful for the post-war audience. The angularity of lines softened to sensuous curves, and jewelry grew softer and more feminine.
However, in the 1950s, there was also a rise in American jewelry. Harry Winston made great marks out of New York, while Jean Schlumberger’s work for Tiffany & Co. became iconic, especially after Breakfast at Tiffany’s was released. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, with her croissant and her Tiffany’s jewelry, cemented the place of the brand in the pantheon of luxury.
Another Danish brand that had great success in this era was Georg Jensen, whose designers, such as Arno Malinowski and Henning Koppel, designed modern, plain silver pieces often depicting sea life or animals.
Themes, Motifs, and Jewelry Styles of the 50s
Whereas the jewelry of the 1950s was bold, the themes and motifs were not revolutionary but often retrofitted from the past in a newer way. There is a continuing popularity of animal wildlife motifs like the Panther of Cartier, and there is a celebration of flora and fauna in extravagant manners.
Brooches
The brooches were especially in fashion, generally sported in clusters on the bodices of the decade’s signature silhouette. In fact, they could be worn as pendants or even as crowns, very much like Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic style.
Earrings
Earrings became larger and much more noticeable, with drooping gems often matched in the decade’s swept-up hairstyles. Clip-on earrings were the order of the day, though the 1950s did see a brief spate of ear piercing, spearheaded by no less than Queen Elizabeth II, who had pierced her ears in 1947 to wear diamond earrings that had been given to her.
Bracelets
Bracelets of the time involved bangles, gold wire mesh, and strings of pearls, all worn in stacks, with this latter habit showing significant growth. Necklaces, previously only used on the décolletage, were now used around the throat to frame low necks and often set rows of pearls or waterfalls of gemstones; some were specifically designed to double as tiaras.
Rings
Rings continued to be bold but wore softer lines in comparison to the severe angles of Art Deco. The Ballerina Ring is one of the more popular cocktail rings with a large center stone surrounded by gemstones that reflect and feign the frill of a tutu. Worn most often on the right hand, these were ideal statement pieces for the fashion-forward lady in the 50s.
Celebrities Who Love Antique and Vintage Jewelry
Fast-forward to the present, and that fascination with antique jewelry hasn’t dissipated. Still, various celebrities hail the timeless appeal of antique pieces, proving that old styles really do have relevance in today’s fashion.
Rita Ora
A modern-day starlet, Rita Ora is in love with antique jewelry. She can often be spotted wearing old rings from Victorian and Edwardian times with her modern outfits. She blends old with new and is, hence, a thorough style icon.
Anna Wintour
Anna Wintour, the undisputed queen of fashion, is particularly partial to Riviere necklaces from Georgia. She loves more-than-200-year-old beauties that feature lushly colored stones, which she layers to dazzling effect. They remind her that true style has no expiration date.
Mary-Kate Olsen
While she is more famous for her acting and fashion ventures, Mary-Kate Olsen sure did make headlines with that engagement ring from Olivier Sarkozy. Vintage Cartier sporting an Art Deco target ring silhouette, this was just perfect as it proved how an antique piece can make news even today.
Rihanna
Rihanna is another celebrity who often wears antique jewelry as part of her bold, eclectic style. Whether she’s sporting a Georgian paste cross or a cameo ring, her love of vintage pieces brings depth and history to her looks. Perhaps most notably, Rihanna’s Pope-inspired Met Gala appearance, featuring an antique Saint Esprit pendant, showed her flair for the dramatic and her love of antique jewelry.
Behati Prinsloo
Victoria’s Secret model Behati Prinsloo wears an Art Deco solitaire of breathless beauty designed by her husband, Adam Levine. This 1930s original is a one-carat, old-cut diamond set in platinum that dramatically demonstrates just how fresh Art Deco designs can be.
Emily Blunt
She can often be spotted on the red carpet with a Victorian brooch adorned with attached old mine-cut earrings. Her overall vintage-influenced look is perfectly complemented by the Art Deco solitaire engagement ring her husband, John Krasinski, gave her.
FKA Twigs
FKA Twigs caused quite a stir with her engagement to Robert Pattinson, and her Art Nouveau engagement ring sent tongues talking. The four-carat pear-shaped diamond weighs about four carats and is truly a beauty of Art Nouveau’s design.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence especially loves antique jewelry —Art Deco bracelets, Victorian pendants, and such. Her ability to mix these historic pieces with modern-day fashion has made her a star on the red carpet.
Kate Moss
Kate Moss is the epitome of rock-and-roll chic, and she can quite often be found in Victorian earrings with fiery white diamonds set in silver—the perfect bit of edge on an otherwise exceedingly modern style. Her antique Art Deco solitaire ring is further proof that she loves herself some serious vintage bling.
Miranda Kerr
Orlando Bloom once gave Miranda Kerr an Edwardian cluster engagement ring. Their relationship may now be history, but the ring is a truly beautiful example of early 20th-century work.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman is another actress who loves antique jewelry pieces. Her Victorian necklace with matching earrings is truly one of a kind because finding complete antique sets can be quite rare nowadays.
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell really brought out some heavy-hitting Art Deco jewels to finish her look at the 2019 Met Gala, where she donned three ruby and diamond bracelets. For this, she is a supermodel—she can pull off bold, vintage pieces with so much grace.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker, or Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, possesses an exquisite antique jewelry collection. From her snaking necklace of the 1880s to early cluster earrings of the 20th century, each particular piece is as bold and different as her fashion style.
Timeless Allure of Vintage Jewelry Pieces
The 1950s were indeed a golden era for jewelry fashion, where boldness combined with femininity resulted in a perfect blend of luxury and style. This eternal glamour of pieces, like antiques and vintage items, lives today through many of our favorite celebrities, proving that true style never goes out of fashion. From a Georgian riviere necklace to an Art Deco ring or a brooch from the Victorian era, each has with it a bit of history that gives depth and character to any outfit.
Whether it’s the glitz and glamour of the 1950s or just classic good taste, there’s something undeniably magic about sporting a piece that has kept its swagger through the ages. After all, as the great Marilyn Monroe sang, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” and some of the best friends you can have are those that have been around for decades, or even centuries, ready to add just that touch of sparkle to your life.
