GEORGIAN

Styles were dramatic and ornate, thanks partly to intricate metalwork techniques such as repoussé (the hammering of metal into ornate designs) and cannetille (a method of working the gold wire to make it look woven).

The design style of Georgian jewellery was quite feminine in feel. Common motifs include flowers, plumes, birds, bugs and even human body parts such as hands or eyes. Portrait miniatures were popular, as was intricate hair jewellery.

Popular cuts for diamonds  included ‘rose cut’, ‘old mine cut’ and ‘table cut’. They lack the ‘sparkle factor’ of more recent diamonds due to less refined cutting techniques.

Pearls, sapphires, rubies and garnets were widely used in Georgian jewellery, often cut in the shape of a cabochon or teardrop. Rubies and pearls were a fashionable combination at the time.