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Art Deco Jewellery

At Friar House, we specialise in Art Deco jewellery and our Vintage jewellery collection includes a wide range of Art Deco jewellery, from elegant necklaces and bracelets to exquisite earrings, pendants and Art Deco engagement rings. 

Browse our Art Deco jewellery collection or delve further into our Art Deco engagement rings collection to discover a timeless piece that combines modern elegance with vintage charm. 

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What defines Art Deco jewellery

Art Deco jewellery, made roughly between 1920 and 1939, marks a deliberate break from the flowing, nature-inspired designs of the preceding Edwardian era. In its place, Art Deco jewellery embraced straight lines, symmetry and bold geometric shapes - stepped forms, sunbursts, chevrons - often built from contrasting materials such as platinum against black onyx, or diamonds set beside sapphires, rubies and emeralds for colour contrast rather than blending. Art Deco jewellery remains some of the most recognisable and sought-after jewellery of any period.

Platinum was the defining metal of Art Deco jewellery. Its strength let jewellers create fine milgrain borders and openwork gallery panels that would not have been possible in gold, and it suited the crisp, architectural lines Art Deco jewellery called for. Old European cut diamonds, calibre-cut coloured stones cut to fit precise geometric settings, and Egyptian Revival motifs following the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb are all hallmarks of genuine Art Deco jewellery worth knowing when you are buying.

Styles in our Art Deco jewellery collection

Our Art Deco jewellery collection includes Art Deco rings, Art Deco bracelets, Art Deco necklaces, Art Deco earrings and Art Deco brooches across a range of budgets, from simple geometric diamond pieces to more elaborate calibre-cut gemstone designs. Art Deco engagement rings, Art Deco diamond rings and Art Deco cocktail rings are among the most popular pieces within our wider Art Deco jewellery collection.

Every piece of Art Deco jewellery in our collection is checked for period-accurate construction - the settings, cut of stone and metal used should all be consistent with a genuine 1920s or 30s origin, and we say so plainly when a piece is a later, Art Deco-inspired design rather than an original piece of Art Deco jewellery.

Buying Art Deco jewellery: what to look for

Authenticity is the most important consideration when buying Art Deco jewellery. Genuine Art Deco jewellery carries hallmarks from the period - British pieces should show an assay office mark and date letter placing them in the 1920s or 1930s. Stone cuts are also a useful guide: old European and transitional cut diamonds pre-date the modern round brilliant, which was not standardised until the 1950s, so Art Deco jewellery set with modern brilliant-cut diamonds has likely been altered or is a later reproduction.

Condition varies across Art Deco jewellery, and fine milgrain edging in particular can wear over time. We describe condition honestly across our Art Deco jewellery collection and are happy to discuss any individual piece before purchase.

Visit us or browse online

Our Art Deco jewellery collection is updated regularly as new pieces come in. If Art Deco jewellery is a period you are specifically collecting, let us know what you already own - we can flag new arrivals before they go online. We are based at 29 High Street, Battle, East Sussex, open Monday to Saturday, 10:15 to 17:00.

Expertly Curated ByVictoria Dahms Victoria DahmsAntique Jewellery Expert
Victoria has 30 years experience curating the finest antique and vintage jewellery
Victoria's Story
Questions

Common Questions

Art Deco jewellery (c.1920–1939) broke decisively from the Edwardian Garland style and introduced geometric forms, bold symmetry, and strong contrasts. Platinum and white gold replaced yellow metal for fine pieces. Diamonds were paired with calibré-cut coloured stones - sapphires, rubies, emeralds - fitted precisely into geometric settings. The movement drew on Egyptian, East Asian, and African design, reflecting the cultural openness of the interwar period.

Diamonds are central to most high-quality Art Deco pieces. Sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are used extensively for colour contrast - frequently as calibré-cut accent stones fitted precisely into geometric mounts alongside diamonds. Onyx, coral, jade, and lapis lazuli feature strongly in statement pieces, reflecting the Egyptian and East Asian influences of the period. Rock crystal and glass enamel appear in more affordable examples.

Platinum-mounted Art Deco pieces are among the most robust antique jewellery available. Platinum is denser and more scratch-resistant than gold, and the geometric settings of the period were designed with precision and structural integrity. Many of our customers wear Art Deco rings and bracelets daily. We always comment on the specific durability and condition of individual pieces in our listings.

Aquamarine's cool, transparent blue colour was perfectly suited to the open, light-filled aesthetic of the Art Deco period. Its relatively large crystal size meant stones could be cut to substantial proportions that suited the bold geometric settings of the 1920s and 1930s. The emerald cut - step-cut in a rectangular or octagonal form - became the defining aquamarine cut of the Art Deco period, its long clean facets complementing the architectural precision of platinum mounts.

Authentic pieces carry period hallmarks and show hand-finishing consistent with pre-war manufacture. The diamond cuts are the most telling detail: old European and transitional cuts predate the modern round brilliant, which was not standardised until the 1950s. If a supposedly Art Deco ring contains modern brilliant-cut diamonds, it has been altered or is a later piece. Calibré-cut coloured stones - precisely shaped to fill geometric settings - are another feature rarely replicated well in modern work.

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