Accessorize Like It’s 1930: 5 Ways We Used To Wear Diamonds
Today’s starlets and celebrities have a long way to go before they match the jewelry fashions worn by the movie stars, heiresses, and socialites of yesteryear.
If anyone wants to argue with me, check out these diamond fashions I found in the JCK archives from the 1930s. These are your grandmother's diamonds.
Diamonds were a star attraction at the National Jewelers’ Publicity Pageant held at the Hotel Commodore on Sept. 19, 1930.
A model at the party wore a million dollars’ worth of jewels, which included a diamond necklace, bracelets, and a ring with a single stone of “fabulous worth,” and earrings.
This unidentified model is wearing diamond jewelry from Oscar Heyman & Brothers, Inc.
“This modern gown of black chiffon accentuates the lustrous beauty of the emerald and diamond ensemble of necklace pendant, bracelets, ring, earrings, and hair ornament set off with a large marquise cut diamond of unusual brilliance.”
At the opening of the Metropolitan Opera season in 1930, white was favored by “many of the daughters of Dame Fashion.”
One of those daughters wore sapphires and diamonds with her white satin gown. “Both cabochon and cut stones combine to make a necklace, bracelet, earrings, shoulder clip, brooch, and ring. The diamond and sapphire hair ornament is new this season and is used with either a bob or long hair coif.”
In JCK March 1931, the magazine’s fashion editors recommended how women could accessorize with diamonds in the upcoming spring.
“When she goes forth to conquer they turn and look, even as you and I. Pendant earrings with a priceless stone in each, a spray ornament in her hair, a necklace, shoulder clips, bracelets, and rings in platinum mountings, and a long slender pendant give dash and sparkle to her gown.”
“When she turns her back at a fashionable gathering a lovely lady may be really interested in you. The diamond spray hair ornament, and a diamond necklace which comes down and almost meets the diamond clip, is all that is used to break the severity of the of the bodice’s line. The gown is long and shealth-like to below the hips, where it flares softly into a slight train. With it is worn a black velvet evening coat lined with white and with a white flat fur collar.”
