1920’s Store /

1920’s Jewelry

1920’s Watches

Illinois Watch Company

The Illinois Watch Company had four basic "periods" of wrist watch production. The first period was from the 1910s to the early 1920s, during which most wrist watches were converted pocketwatch movements. Gent's military and military-style specimens were made, often featuring porcelain dials.

The second period -- from the early to mid 1920s -- included movements and dials which were sold to be cased by individual jewelers. These were mostly small 6/0-size movements with 6:00 or 9:00 subsidiary seconds. Some were also cased at the factory using generic cases from a variety of sources. Some of the better-known models from that latter category include the Square, Canby, Square Cut Corner, Cushion, and Whippet. Also, larger 3/0-size movements were cased at the factory in this way -- the Champion, Special, Ace/Maxine, and Atlantic, for example.

In the late 1920s, shortly before the Hamilton Watch Company took over, Illinois began commissioning its own unique wrist watch cases. The company cased and boxed its watches at the factory, marking the beginning of what many collectors consider the company's golden era, during which the finest watches were made. Models include the Picadilly, Marquis, Chieftain, Ritz, New Yorker and Manhattan (the New Yorker came with a leather strap, the Manhattan with a metal one), the Beau series (Beau Monde, Beau Geste, Beau Brummel, and Beau Royale), the Mate, and the top of the line 14-karat solid gold Consul. Many collectors consider The Consul to be the finest American wrist watch ever made -- examples with original silver pinstripe dials, starburst dials, and with a small second hand are especially desired. Some of these art deco models also came in 2-tone gold (white gold sections along with yellow or green gold) which are also very desired and rare.

Waltham Watch Company

Waltham became the main supplier of Railroad chronometers to the various railroads in America and in as many as 52 other countries of the world. In 1876, Waltham disclosed the first automatic screw making machinery and obtained the first Gold Medal in a watch precision contest at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Not only the American Horology but also the world owes much to the early members of the Waltham Watch entity, such as Bacon, Church, Dennison, Fogg, H. Marsh, Webster and Woerd for their technical inventions and developments.

The Waltham Watch Company has produced about 40 million high quality watches, clocks, speedometers, compasses, time fuses and other precision instruments in about 100 years in U.S.A. Each movement has been engraved with an individual serial number. The Company went out of business in 1957, upon having founded a subsidiary in Switzerland in 1954, Waltham International SA, to further Waltham as a Swiss Made Watch Brand.

Rolex Watches

In 1908 Hans Wilsdorf registered the trademark "Rolex" and opened an office in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The company name "Rolex" was registered on 15 November 1915.

In 1919 Wilsdorf moved the company to Geneva, Switzerland where it was established as the Rolex Watch Company. Its name was later changed to Montres Rolex, SA, and finally Rolex, SA. The company moved out of the United Kingdom because taxes and export duties on the case metals (silver and gold) were driving costs up.

Among the company's innovations are the first waterproof watch case; the first wristwatch with a date on the dial; the first watch to show two time zones at once; and the first watchmakers to earn chronometer certification for a wristwatch. To date, Rolex still holds the record for the most certified chronometer movements in the category of wristwatches.

Bulova Watch Company

Bulova is a New York based corporation making watches and clocks. Bulova was founded and incorporated as the J. Bulova Company in 1875 by Joseph Bulova (1851-1936), an immigrant from Bohemia. It was reincorporated under the name Bulova Watch Company in 1923.

1920’s Cartier Watch

Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847 by Louis-François Cartier when he took over the workshop of his master. In 1874, his son Alfred Cartier took over the administration of the company, but it was Alfred's sons Louis, Pierre and Jacques, who were responsible for establishing the world-wide brand name of Cartier.

In 1904, the Brazilian aviator, Alberto Santos-Dumont complained to his friend Louis Cartier of the unreliability and impracticality of using pocket watches while flying. Cartier rose to the challenge, designing a flat wristwatch with a distinctive square bezel. This watch was not only a hit with Santos-Dumont, but also with Cartier's many clients. Thus, out of this timeless design, the "Santos" was born. This was the first men's wristwatch.

In the early 1920s Cartier formed a joint company with Edward Jaeger to produce watch movements solely for Cartier. Thus was the famed European watch & clock company born, although Cartier continued to use movements from other great makers. Cartier watches can be found with movements from Vacheron Constantin, Audemars-Piguet, Movado and LeCoultre. It was also during this period that Cartier began adding its own reference numbers to the watches it sold, usually by stamping a four-digit code on the underside of a lug. In fact, many collectors refuse to accept a Cartier as original, unless these numbers are present.

Famous Cartier watch models

1. Tank Française watch: In 1917, inspired by the newly introduced war machines on the Western Front, Louis Cartier designed the most famous Cartier watch, the Cartier Tank watch. This line too has survived, with over thirty varieties now being made.

2. Pasha de Cartier watch: Originally designed as a men’s watch to be worn with a protective grid it became instantly popular with women.

3. Roadster watch: A sturdy built watch with interchangeable straps to suit its owners personality.

4. Santos 100 watch: A big strong watch with a block made from gold or steel that has a screw-down bezel and luminous hands. A high quality watch that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Santos de Cartier watch.

Meissen 1920s Art Nouveau Figures

Meissen porcelain is the first European hard-paste porcelain that was first developed in 1708. The commercial production of porcelain at Meissen, near Dresden, Germany, began in 1710 attracting artists and artisans who established the famous porcelain manufacturer which is still in business today, Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH. In order to identify the original Meissen products, Meissen developed markings that initially were painted on, but were soon fired in underglaze blue. Its signature logo, the crossed swords, was introduced in 1720 to protect its production; the mark of the crossed swords is one of the oldest trademarks in existence.

In 1720 Johann Gregorius Höroldt became the director and introduced brilliant colors which made Meissen porcelain famous. The next sculptor, Johann Jakob Kirchner, was the first to make large-scale statues and figurines, especially of Baroque saints.

In the nineteenth century Ernst August Leuteritz modernized many of the rococo figurines, and reissued them, creating a "Second Rococo" characterized by lacework details (made from actual lace dipped in slip and fired) and applied flowers; English collectors used the term Dresden porcelain to describe these wares. In 1903, old styles were revived and reinterpreted and eighteenth century models were restored. Some appealing work in the Art Nouveau style was produced, but Meissen's mainstay continued to be the constant production of revived eighteenth-century models.

Meissen Art Nouveau Auctions

Meissen Art Deco Auctions

Meissen 1920's Porcelain Auctions

Meissen Porcelain Auctions

1920s Hairstyles

How to do Fingerwaves and other popular hairstyles of the 1920's.

Fingerwaves (also known as water waves) and Marcel Waves were two of the most popular hair styles of the nineteen-twenties. As is obvious from the name of each hairstyle, they were methods of adding waves to straight hair. The primary difference between the two was that the Marcel Wave used heated tongs to set the wave, while finger waves relied on water or a lotion to hold the waves in position until they dried.

Finger Waves - How to Create - 18 Lessons

These instructions on how to create beautiful deep finger waves are by a leading hairdresser of the 1920's and 1930's.

He recorded the exact methods he used in his salon for thousands of happy customers. With detailed descriptions and by the use of illustrations and photos from different angles he takes you step-by-step through the process of creating stunning fingerwaves. You will like the clear photos of each hairstyle that are taken from multiple angles so you can see exactly how it should look.

Not only does he teach the basics of fingerwaving but he goes on to show how to recreate the fingerwave hairstyles worn by popular Hollywood actresses and other 1920's celebrities.

If you want to learn how to recreate genuine 1920's hairstyles, this book will teach you how. Download "Finger Waves". Cost $21

Marcel Waves - How to Create - Basic Bobbed Hair

Learn how to create the Marcel Wave hairstyle that was so popular during the nineteen-twenties. Modern electric tongs make this process very simple compared to creating Marcel Waves back in the 1920's.

Such was it's popularity back then that women gladly risked using the primitive equipment that was available. Now you achieve the same look with no risk.

Marcel Waving was superceded to a large extent by permanent waving but has regained popularity due to its ease of use at home, saving a trip and the cost of visiting a hair salon. An important consideration these days.

These instructions are from the 1920's so while the technique taught is still relevant, the modern Marcel iron is far superior. If you're into vintage hairstyles then this is a classic. Download "Marcel Waving". Cost $17

Bob Hairstyles - How to Create - The Basics

Learn how to cut and style hair so you can create authentic 1920's hairstyles like the Bob and then apply the finger waving and marcel wave techniques you learned in the first two books. It is a real, usable handbook that teaches expert hair cutting as an essential foundation for proper hairdressing.

Topics include Thinning, Tapering, Shingling, and Layer cutting. Detailed instructions accompanied by lots of high quality illustrations and photos make this a very user friendly book.

Most books on 1920's hairstyles are missing these basic techniques that are the foundation of the hairstyle, and so this book fills an important need. Download "Bobbed Hairstyles". Cost $27

1920’s Platinum Jewelry

In the 1920's Platinum was the new luxury metal for jewelry used with stones like coral, jade, aquamarine, citrin, onyx and opal as well as the more traditional gems like diamond, ruby, and emerald in rings, bracelets, pendants, earings, pins etc.

White metals like platinum, white gold, and silver carried over in popularity from the previous decade. The stark white-on-white look of diamonds on platinum appeared elegant and sophisticated, but the 1920's contribution was to add gemstones like rubies and emeralds to provide accent.

New techniques in working with platinum were developed that allowed intricate decorative patterns to be carved on jewelry surfaces. This enabled the creation of beautiful engagement rings from the 1920's that are sought after by collectors today.

See below for auctions of 1920's platinum jewelry.

1920's Platinum Jewelry

Art Deco Jewelry

The Art Deco period is considered to have begun about 1920 and had a major effect on the style of 1920's jewelry, making it considerably different to pre 1920's jewelry. Art Deco jewelry had a clean cut and sophisticated look based on straight lines, symmetry, and geometric shapes.

The white stones on white metal look of the previous decade was still prevalent but to it was added colored stones like ruby, emerald and sapphire to add accent. New geometric cuts like the baguette were developed for gemstones to conform to the Art Deco look.

Platinum was the "in" metal of the 1920's and colorful opaque stones like jade, coral and lapis lazuli were used in addition to precious stones to contrast with its silver look. Synthetic stones were sometimes used to make the jewelry more affordable, especially when large numbers of stones were used on an item.

Major influences on Art Deco jewelry design included Egyptian motifs (King Tut's tomb was discovered in 1922), India and the Orient, Africa, Cubism and nature. Most jewelry design incorporated circles, triangles, rectangles, arcs etc. Art Deco culture gorified speed so emblems of speed like fast animals and birds, cars, planes and arrows were featured in elegant designs.

Pearl necklaces were popular and became much more affordable due to the introduction of cultured pearls.

Art Deco Jewelry Auctions

1920’s Bracelets

1920's bracelets were works of jewellery art that showcased the art deco influence of strong colors and geometric shapes. The variety of bracelets designed in the 1920's is staggering with a huge diversity of materials and styles that reflected the financial status of the wearer.

Costume jewelry was in vogue so bracelets usually featured geometrically cut and shaped glass stones in a veritable rainbow of colors on a non-precious metal band. Silver colored base metals were commonly silver plated or sometimes rodium or chrome plated to give the cheaper bracelets a more expensive look.

Beautiful bangles were created from bakelite that imitated the tortoise shell effect, and sometimes were decorated by painted designs or rhinestones.

More elaborate and much more expensive bracelets were made from silver, white gold or platinum and incorporated precious stones like diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Due to the amount of metal and gem stones used in their construction these 1920's bracelets were very expensive at the time and remain so even today.

The art deco influenced 1920's bracelets with their bold geometric designs and colors are still very attractive by modern day standards and this contributes to their popularity with collectors and lovers of quality jewelry.

Estate auctions are a good source if you are seeking a 1920's bracelet but it requires constant monitoring of auction catalogs to locate them.

We have listed some current 1920's bracelet auctions below.

1920’s Cameras

The first flexible movie camera films measured 35-mm wide and came in long rolls on a spool. In the mid 1920's 35mm roll film was developed for the camera using this technology.

Oskar Barnack, who was in charge of research and development at Leitz, decided to investigate using 35mm cine film for still cameras while attempting to build a compact camera capable of making high-quality enlargements. He built his prototype 35mm camera (Ur-Leica) around 1913, though further development was delayed for several years by World War I. Leitz test-marketed the design between 1923 and 1924, receiving enough positive feedback that the camera was put into production as the Leica I (for Leitz camera) in 1925. The Leica's immediate popularity spawned a number of competitors, most notably the Contax (introduced in 1932), and cemented the position of 35mm as the format of choice for high-end compact cameras.

In the 1920s, wooden cameras began to be replaced by metal bodied cameras as mass production made cameras more affordable. Black painted bodies, black leather bellows and black leatherette covering featured in many designs, contrasted by nickel plated parts and occasionally chrome plating. Aluminium began to be used in the construction of cameras as pressed bodies and castings.

The first practical reflex camera was the Franke & Heidecke Rolleiflex medium format TLR of 1928. Though both single- and twin-lens reflex cameras had been available for decades, they were too bulky to achieve much popularity. The Rolleiflex, however, was sufficiently compact to achieve widespread popularity and the medium-format TLR design became popular for both high- and low-end cameras.

1922 Kodak Camera Advertisement

No.1 Autographic Kodak (1922). Price $50

Exposures as fast as 1/200 of a second and six other adjustable speeds down to 1/2 second, all timed with scientific accuracy, give the No.1 Special a picture range hitherto associated with large cameras only. And yet you scarcely feel it in your pocket. Since the introduction of the the Kodak thity four years ago there has been no more single achievement in hand camera construction.

The lens: The high speed, high quality Kodak Anastigmat f6.3, eastman made from formula to finish, produces sharp, brilliant clean-cut pictures - the kind you will be glad to keep and proud to show. The shutter: Kodamatic shutter has seven adjustable speeds as well as time and bulb action, and each speed is dependably accurate.

Vintage 1920's Cameras for sale online

1920’s Rings

Beautiful filigree engagement rings in the Art Deco style made from white gold or platinum and set with diamonds, rubies, aquamarine, onyx, sapphire or pearl were a feature of the 1920's. The main part of the ring was usually covered in finely detailed engravings of floral, lacey or geometric designs. White gold or platinum rings set with diamonds have a stark white look that is very appealing.

Platinum was the precious metal of choice for expensive jewelry. New techniques for working with platinum were developed which made possible the intricately detailed designs. The rings have a timeless elegant quality and are much sort after today by collectors of fine jewelry.

Costume jewelry also followed the Art Deco style but focused more on semi-precious stones or cheaper materials for decoration. The rings generally featured bold dramatic designs and strong colors.

Next Page »