Simple Guide to '60s and 70's Jewelry

Simple Guide to 1960s and 1970s Jewelry

Are you interested in vintage jewelry or would like to expand your collection? Consider learning more about Vintage 1960’-1970’s jewelry. The economic stability and social regime of the 1950s were swept away by a period of political questioning and rejection of the present. A younger generation was seizing the cultural reigns, and the impact was felt everywhere. People of the 1960s and ’70s had new values: modernism, free-thinking, and demand for change. Many jewelry designers were influenced by these ideas and gradually the designs became bolder and eye-catching. They expressed creativity and individuality. Femininity and elegance were no longer a priority.

In this blog post you will learn:

Inspiration from the Art
60’s and 70’s Main Characteristics
Popular Types of Jewelry

Inspiration from the Art

Mod Designs - The term “mod” comes from the term modernist. Mod designs were all about being youthful, creative, daring, bold, and self-confident which aligned with the 60s ideology and fashions.
Pop Art - Pop Art challenged traditional values and celebrated commonplace objects and everyday life. Characterized by vibrant and bright colors, red, yellow, and blue were the prominent shades. It symbolized fashion for the masses, wearable, and affordable.
Op Art - Op Art made a grand entrance. It had geometric patterns in black and white to create an optical illusion or to play with visual perception. 1960s jewelry drew inspiration notably from these three styles.

60’s and 70’s Main Characteristics

Textured Gold - Since solid gold jewelry was already a hot trend, jewelry designers began to experiment with textures. A gritty effect dulling the shine of gold was created by fusing gold onto gold. Crumpled and hammered textures were also popular. In addition to gold, other metals were utilized during this decade.

Plastics and Perspex – The new age of consumerism and disposable products entered our society. Mass production became popular in the jewelry industry. Plastics and resins were gaining their popularity during this decade. Big dangling earrings in geometric shapes, stacks of thick or skinny bangles, colorful flower necklaces, and plastic character pins were all-new for the space age youth. The new low-cost, low-value designs of the 1960s paved the way for an entirely new approach to fashion and consumerism. Traditional and more sophisticated women continued to wear textured gold, pearls, and paste styles.

Bold Color Combinations – The fashions of the 1960s and 1970s were provocative and expressed individuality in any way possible. Mod or pop art colors: black and white, yellow and green, and pink and red to name just a few. Jewelry designs featured bold colors, often with lurid man-made combinations paired together.

Geometric Shapes – Similar to the geometric trends of the 1920s, The Space Age influenced jewelry and fashion design, with metal designs in geometric shapes becoming popular in the ’60s and ’70s. Circles, diamonds, spirals, and hexagons were all featured in these new jewelry styles.

Popular Types of Jewelry

Statement Earrings - During this period, women wore short hair or tucked back under a thick headband. Therefore, long large earrings became extremely popular and a must-have. The ear lobes became the perfect place to sport oversized hoops or dramatic high-end earrings.

Cocktail Rings - Big cocktail rings continued to be worn in the ’60s and ’70s. Designs became even bigger, more colors, and with global influences. In the late 1960s, Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired arts influenced both fashion and jewelry. The hippie movement evolved and established new trends.

Bangles - With the growing value of consumerism and mass production women were able to accessorize their outfits more easily and cheaper than ever before. Chunky oversized bangles in jarring color combinations were the perfect 1960s accessory, as were stacks of thin bangles cascading the entire arm.

The Bottom Line

Mass production and consumerism crawled into American homes and influenced other countries. Jewelry became easily accessible, affordable, and disposable. Cheaper materials like Plastic, Resin, and Perspex became popular. Nevertheless, high-end jewelry was also popular, and it reflected the 60’s and 70’s ideas of freedom, resistance, individuality, and creativity.

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