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Yellow gold regained prominence during this era, as wartime
restrictions made platinum unavailable to the jewellery industry.
Retro jewellery is often multi-coloured, combining gold alloys with
rose, yellow, and even green overtones.
The taste for Hollywood glamour and drama called for jewellery of
"larger-than-life" proportions. Cocktail rings, bracelets, watches
and necklaces were massive and three-dimensional. The vogue for
textured fabrics and an exaggerated silhouette further necessitated
jewellery of a certain size and volume. |
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Semi-precious stones and synthetic rubies and sapphires gained
favour in the face of wartime luxury taxes and a scarcity of
precious stones. New trade routes opened up South America as a
bountiful source of large, semi-precious stones. Consequently, Retro
jewellery often features coloured gemstones like citrine and
aquamarine, in rectangular cuts and massive proportions.
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