Today we carry on our study of 1950s fashion history with a look at 1950s jewelry styles and trends throughout the decade. In the 1950s, costume jewelry enjoyed a global boom in popularity. Jewelry designs were clean, colorful, ornate, and coordinated to an outfit perfectly.
Costume jewelry flourished, even with increased spending power that this decade yielded. Consequently, costume jewelry perfectly facilitated the trend for women to look well groomed.
The 1950s were an era of elegance and femininity.
Whilst the war years brought about austerity, the new decade was a very welcome change. Especially relevant was the launch of Dior’s Corolle collection in 1947. Dior’s version of  idealized femininity was characterized by a defined waistline and full flowing skirts. This silhouette was to dominate the following decade, becoming the archetypal image of the 1950s woman.
The 1940s were all about thrift and re-purposing, whilst the 1950s were about femininity and impeccable presentation. This idealism saturated all aspects of women’s lives during this era, even into the realm of their closets and jewelry boxes. Novelty designs and patriotic colors while still common were replaced by classic jewelry shapes and colors.
1950s Jewelry Colors
These bold turquoise jewelry pieces are perfect for recreating a 1950s style.
Bolder colors began to grow in popularity. Women powdered their eyelids in bright azure blues, painting their lips in clear corals. Consequently, this trend filtered through to costume jewels.
This necklace set from Charming Charlie is perfect for recreating a 1950s style.
Faux turquoise and coral stones became popular. A cabochon cut was utilized to create the turquoise stone, therefore making the stones appear as genuine as possible.
1950s Jewelry Styles: Strands of Pearls
Pearls had been a popular choice of jewelry for the past few decades. However, by the mid 1950s, pearls suddenly enjoyed a boom in popularity. They were the perfect accessory to the little black dress. Black and white was very chic. So were other colors of pearls: champagne, coffee, lemon yellow, cream, and grey complimented a woman’s complexion and outfit.
The fashion for women to appear as the epitome of the feminine ideal fuelled this trend. Grace Kelly was frequently pictured wearing pearls, and subsequently was a fan of the jewelry style. Jewelry featuring pearl was raised to iconic status as a result of this endorsement.
Finish an outfit with these original vintage Trifari earrings from John Lewis vintage.
1950s Jewelry Trend: Lucite and Plastics
1956 Gold Monet Jewelry
Lucite is a type of plastic made from acrylic resin developed in the 1930s. During WII, military aircrafts used Lucite as an important component. After WWII stocks of Lucite were no longer needed, therefore accessory and jewelry designers utilized the material instead.
An original Trifari Jelly Belly Brooch, available on Etsy.
One such jewelry design was the Jelly Belly pin. Designed by Trifari, Lucite was crafted into cabochon balls in order to form the ‘belly’ part of a design.
This brooch from Charming Charlie is a great version of the 1950s Jelly Belly pins.
The body of the animal was often set in gilt metal or sterling silver vermeil. These pins quickly became hugely popular. Today, prices for original Trifari Jelly Bellies can command vast sums.
Lucite gold glitter lighting bolt from Unique Vintage
Lucite was available in a variety of colors and finishes. Confetti Lucite –layers of glittering fibers captured in the resin, was also a popular choice for costume jewelry.
Add a touch of 1950s style to an outfit with these designs.
1950s Jewelry Trends: Aurora Borealis and Couture Crystals
The vogue for glittering, sparkling jewels has never faded. However, in the 1950s, this trend reached new heights. During WII, rhinestones were difficult to obtain due to austerity measures and shortages. By the 1950s, rhinestones were once again readily available and highly desirable.
Sparkle in this Betsey Johnson  jewelry set available from Zappos.
By the mid 1950s, a new type of sparkle burst onto the scene. Swarovski had developed the Aurora Borealis stone. This glass gem sparkled iridescently, creating a visually mesmerising rainbow effect.
Choose from these rhinestone styles to add sparkle to a 1950s outfit.
Simultaneously, fashion houses were realizing the potential of costume jewelry to compliment their designs. Chanel and Schiaparelli had been releasing their own jewelry designs for years. Now other fashion houses joined suit. Enchanted by Swarovski’s Aurora Borealis crystal, Dior incorporated it into many of his designs. By the latter half of the decade, many fashion houses all had their own in-house jewelry designs.
1950s Jewelery Styles: Cocktail Rings
As costume jewelry grew in size, the trend for cocktail jewelry emerged. The Cocktail ring became popular. Cocktail rings were designed to be oversized, statement pieces. Women wore the rings for evening soirées, and of course cocktail parties.
Cocktail rings were a popular choice of jewelry in the 1950s.
During this decade there were two designers leading the field in costume jewelry and cocktail styles; Coro and Trifari.
1950s Jewelry: Trifari
The company Trifari was officially founded in 1925. Founder Gustavo Trifari had been making jewelry since the early 1900s. From the 1930s onwards, the brand created a vast amount of costume jewelry. Trifari created jewelry both for musicals on Broadway and department stores. Consequently, the company was one of the largest manufacturers of American costume jewelry (the other being Coro).
A Trifari jewelry advert from the 1950s.
By the 1950s, the United Kingdom were also distributing Trifari pieces. Indeed, the company produced its ‘Coronation Gems’ series to mark the coronation of Elizabeth II.
1950s Jewelry: Coro and Corocraft
Similar to Trifari, Coro produced costume jewelry mostly for the movie industry. By the 1950s, the company produced sets of jewelry in pressed glass and plastics. Flowers and floral designs were a source of inspiration, with many styles produced.
A Coro jewelry advert from the 1950s.
1950s Parures – Matching Sets of Jewelry
Expanding on the desire for women to appear considered and coordinated, women wore matching sets of jewelry.
Coordinate an outfit with these matching sets of jewelry.
A set of jewelry pieces designed to be worn together is called a parure. Women wore matching earring and necklace sets, while bracelet sets were also popular.
1950s Jewelry Trend: Textured Gold
The favored choice of jewelry setting during the 1950s was a yellow-toned gold. As new designs emerged, various styles originated. The most noteworthy of these was textured gold.
Recreate a 1950s look with these textured gold pieces.
This new surface decoration was seen as contemporary and fresh. Jewelry designs of various textures were featured. Weave and stripe patterns, fur or feather details were all recreated.
1950s Jewelry Trend: Hoop Earrings
By the 1950s, women had been wearing clip-on or screw-on earrings for the past few decades. However, towards the end of the decade, pierced ears started to become socially acceptable again. This allowed women to wear longer lengths of earrings in denser designs. Hoop earrings became popular. Women wore hooped earrings of various colours and textures to match their outfits.
Hoop earrings show off short 1950s hairstyles well.
Sweater Guards and Cardigan Clips
Twinsets and cardigans became popular due to the rise of ready to-wear-clothing. Factories were producing many designs, in a varied selection of hues. It became fashionable to wear a sweater or cardigan draped across the shoulders. Sometimes women tied the cardigan to keep it in place. However, this could prove uncomfortable.
Strawberry Sweater Guard at Unique Vintage
Sweater guards and cardigan clips were the perfect answer. They fulfilled the requirement to keep the cardigan in place, whilst looking stylish.
Flower collar pin at Modcloth
Cardigan clips today can prove difficult to find. Try Unique Vintage or Modcloth for some fabulous vintage reproduction styles.
Key Jewelry Styles of the 1950s
- Rhinestones – Jewelry featuring sparkling stones were increasingly popular.
- Aurora Borealis – Developed in the mid 1950s by Swarovski, this rainbow hued crystal caused a sensation in the fashion world.
- Bold Clear Colors – Imitation turquoise and coral stones were popular, mimicking the fashions in make-up design.
- Textured Gold – Costume jewelry featured yellow toned gold with a textural surface.
- Cocktail Jewels – Women wore statement cocktail rings for evening occasions.
- Pearls – Women wore pearls high at the décolletage.
- Parures – Women wanted to appear coordinated at all times. Women wore matching sets of jewelry.
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