The draw to deco

Art deco defined an era, immortalized by unique designs and true craftsmanship. “The beauty with art deco jewellery is that it has a modern feel mixed with a vintage flair,” says Van Rijk, adding this revered style has a lot of influence in the world of jewellery.

Findlay feels the same way, predicting the trend’s lasting popularity based on simple lines with a contemporary esthetic—a testament to fine workmanship. And, of course, when the piece is authentic, it always holds its value, since it is original and one-of-a-kind.

“If people are purchasing genuine jewellery from the past, there is a certain romanticism in imagining the women who wore those jewels, the fabulous lives they led, and the hidden stories that jewellery can tell,” Chila says.

Then there are modern customers seeking contemporary jewellery that still conjures feelings of nostalgia with recreations of the glamorous statement pieces of the ’20s. Designers continually refresh the trend with new and exciting perspectives.

Ghanimian says Simon G is capitalizing on the trend, incorporating styles influenced by looks from decades past, such as scrollwork, marquise shapes, and accented designs, while still using modern techniques to ensure a higher standard of quality.

It is important to maintain that feeling of originality with pieces not so off-the-shelf, he says. “It’s very fashionable right now to be organic, to be natural, and not so commercialized. It’s all about having fashion with a sense of economics.”

You could say today’s jewellery designers are ‘putting on the Ritz.’

Jennifer Hopf is a copywriting specialist and freelance writer based in Toronto. A journalism graduate from Durham College, she is now focused on feature writing for magazines, with a passion for the jewellery and luxury industry. She is also savvy in social media and digital content marketing, with a background in retail sales.