The 1960s were a time of great experiments and progress, but also a time of wars, conflicts, and social changes – anti-establishment moods were in the air, banners defending civil rights waved on the streets, the hippie movement emerged, Armstrong walked on the Moon, and the Beatles revolutionized music. All these events had a strong influence on fashion trends at that time.The jewelry industry was paving the way for changes that broke the conventions and limitations of previous decades, and jewelry, like never before, became a way to express oneself and one’s individuality.
A breath of freedom
The first years of the decade began conservatively, maintaining the aesthetics of 1940s and 1950s jewelry. However, advancing modernism and the demand for change quickly encouraged many designers to experiment with technique, style, and materials in creating jewelry. Gradually, designs became bolder and more eye-catching, leading to the free expression of individuality and leaving the elegance of the 1950s behind.
Materials used in 1960s jewelry
Innovations were synonymous with the era of the 1960s. Designers turned to easily accessible plastics, such as resin and polymer masses, as well as acrylic, that is “plexiglass,” which at the time appeared under trade names like Lucite and Perspex. The new designs symbolized fashion for the masses, easy to wear and affordable, challenging traditional values and celebrating ordinary objects and everyday life. The new aesthetic, however, did not entirely reject the style and elegance of the previous decade – semi-precious stones such as agate, malachite, and crystals were widely used, among the noble metals silver dominated, which became a substitute for gold and platinum. Also very popular were strands of artificial pearls, as well as cabochon turquoises, coral, and round-cut diamonds.
Asymmetrical designs
Many pieces of jewelry from the 1960s had asymmetrical patterns that reflected chaos, confusion, and upheaval in society. These designs were the complete opposite of jewelry from previous decades, which had symmetrical patterns, were more feminine, and represented class and wealth.
Geometric shapes
After larger, bolder, and more eye-catching patterns, the next in line was experimentation with shapes. Geometric motifs from the Art Deco period were transformed by 1960s designers into hexagons, circles, squares, triangles, and spirals, which were made from both colorful plastics and wood and precious metals. One of the most popular and well-known examples of geometric shapes from the 1960s is the “peace sign,” which consisted of three straight lines inside a circle. The peace sign was included in earrings, pendants, rings, bracelets, brooches, and pins.
Vibrant colors
1960s jewelry was characterized by vivid and bright colors, which replaced the white and earthy palette of previous eras. Juicy shades of green, red, blue, orange, yellow, or turquoise were a very common sight on the streets and in clubs. Extraordinary colors and pattern combinations were meant to shock and attract attention.
The hippie movement and floral patterns
The hippie movement emerged strongly at the end of the decade, emphasizing harmony with nature and artistic experimentation among other ethoses. Flowers gained the greatest prominence within it. They became the emblem of the movement, representing peace and love. Floral patterns were everywhere – on clothing, jewelry, headbands, and even painted on the face. Handmade jewelry inspired by nature or Native American patterns came to the forefront.Natural materials such as wood, feathers, leather, cord, and stones were used to make them.
Cosmic motifs
Progress in space exploration, culminating in the first human landing on the Moon, had a strong influence on the development of jewelry in the late 1960s. Cosmic motifs, such as shooting stars, the sun, and the moon, were extremely popular patterns among designs. Ornaments were large, had metallic colors, and in geometric shapes, zirconia often sparkled.
Custom jewelry
We appreciate the beauty and unique jewelry style of each decade, but our love is directed towards metals and gemstones. We specialize in creating unique custom gold jewelry with diamonds, trying to make our projects elegant, stylish, and timeless, and above all, to meet the expectations of our Clients. Maybe you dream of a diamond ring or earrings? Do you like delicate or perhaps bold designs? Get in touch with our jewelry designer, who will create the jewelry of your dreams!