A brief moment with a lasting impact; Art Nouveau was most popular from 1890 - 1910 and was an 'art total' that included every art form; architecture, painting, music, literature and jewellery.

The movement was characterised by its use of long, sinuous, organic lines, partly inspired by the linear patterns of Japanese prints. Flower stalks, insect wings and other delicate natural objects were Art Nouveau's muses, and exotic, fragile materials like moulded glass and enamel were commonplace.

The Modern period came to life during the 1950s and was largely influenced by societal changes accredited to World War II. As society recovered from the wartime restrictions on raw materials and general austerity, jewellers turned to budget-friendly stones like aquamarine and citrine in lieu of more expensive diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies. In moving towards a period of renewed hope, prosperity and optimism. Designs are filled with large bold colours and typically included large semi-precious stones in conspicuously bold settings with the general aesthetic still embracing simple art deco influences.

Unsurprisingly, the current period of contemporary jewellery is difficult to define. Society is changing rapidly, and today's jewellery reflects this; more pieces of art than symbols of tradition, less function and more fashion, 80s power suits with shoulder pads were in full force and jewellery grew in scale to match the 'more is more' aesthetic.

Contemporary jewellery is seen as a progressive art movement, with new styles appearing all the time. The early 21st century, saw a rise in flashy 'bling' pieces, but more recently the geometric 60s have been referenced in popular styles. A wide range of materials are used today - from precious and non-precious metals, precious and semi-precious gemstones, to plastic, glass, resin, clay, fabric and found objects.