Renaissance Jewelry Explored Color and New Techniques

Renaissance jewelry was created to represent the time of light and creativity. After the dark years of the middle ages, the Renaissance emerges as a time of enlightenment.

It was a time of extraordinary spiritual, artistic and geographic exploration.

With the increase of geographical exploration all-new sources for gemstones and precious metals became available.

New jewelry making tools were developed and imitation gems and pearls meant were invented making jewelry more affordable Jewelry designs were generally bold and elegantly simple.

One all important characteristic of the renaissance of the late fifteenth through the sixteenth centuries was the search for beauty.

Artist engaged in creating beautiful works of art and jewelry was a vital part of this quest.

It was during this time that jewelry started to be used as an item of ornamentation.

With the political and social tension that marked this period of time, the rich found it easier to condense their wealth into the more portable and easily exchangeable form of jewels.

This created an important growth in the creation of fabulous jewels finding them an easy way to exhibit their wealth in a relatively safe manner.

The most abrupt change in design from the jewelry of the middle ages to renaissance jewelry was the disappearance of ecclesiastical themes.

Color was as vivid and as exotic as the subject matter. Precious stones became an accessory in relation to the use of enameled gold. Usually one large stone would be chosen as a basis on which the jewels were designed.

The History of Jewerly - The Jewelry Making Tools and Techniques of the Renaissance

Color took center stage in Renaissance jewelry. Gemstones were placed side by side in a delicate way to create a well balanced color combination. Sapphires, rubies and emeralds were popular choices for their hues, and diamonds were used as contrast. At first gemstones were cut into cabochons and set in a “flush” setting.

With the discovery of the new world, new and exotic animals and plants were brought back to stir the jeweler’s imaginations. Another discovery helped to originate the title of "the jewel age" for the renaissance.

This was the conquering of Peru and Mexico, for it was there that gold and silver were found in greater quantities then had ever been known.

The renaissance’s contribution to the history of jewelry was its vivid colors.

Jewelry became spectacularly eccentric with the use of baroque pearls, enamels, faceted diamonds and colorful stones. It has had the greatest influence on future jewelry craftsmen and collectors of today.

Renaissance jewelry back to ancient Egypt jewelry