If you are interested in Joan Rivers earrings then you could start by reading this brief jewelry time-line I have compiled, and see where Joan Rivers earrings and generally Joan Rivers jewelry fits in time.
Jewelry in the Victorian times
When Queen Victoria acceded to the throne, in 1837, the jewelry industry in England was characterized by two elements: romantic and nationalist. The main influences came from European popular art, which will later mark the Arts and Crafts current. Until the half of the century, most of the jewelry imported by England came from Europe, but soon the jewelry started coming in from America and Australia as well.
Even if the jewelry industry had a long tradition in England had a long tradition, in the middle of the Victorian Ages there was a switch to mass production, in Birmingham, Providence, Rhode Island, which inevitably led to a decrease in quality standards. Women in England were extremely displeased with such serial products, refusing to buy even if the pieces kept turned out to be of good quality. Many women completely gave up on jewelry, while others, the wealthier ones, had their jewelry custom made by the increasing number of jewelers. Some of these jewelers, such as Tiffany – a famous brand later on – began making such beautiful jewelry that soon they had their own stores in most of the major European cities.
The Hollywood influence
Between 1940 and 1950 Europe was dominated by American culture, especially due to Hollywood cinematography. The influence of the movies and movie stars left a permanent mark on fashion, make-up, manners, hair styles and not least on clothes. More and more people wanted nothing more than be perfect replicas of the stars and, therefore, they wanted identical clothes and jewelry. It was as if everyone hoped they would lead the life of a movie star, even for just one second, if they resemble that star in every detail.
The Second World War brought the end of the European jewelry industry, as precious metals and stones were strictly controlled and rationalized. There was no prime matter available for jewelry, so traditional jewelers closed shop or immigrated to America. Here, despite restrictions, the industry survived, even if jewelers started using cheaper materials.
The '80s - Dynasty, Dallas and Diamonds
In the '80s, excessively bright jewelry and clothing returned to the spotlight mostly because of television, as series such as Dynasty, Dallas, Diamonds proposed new models and ideas. The models here became a trend in the jewelry and clothing industry.
Twentieth century jewelry
Jewelry returned to the stage, offering new life and new beauty to clothing and attires, especially on special occasions. The best pieces now are either golden, either plated with 18 or 22 carat gold. Joan Rivers earrings are one of the best examples of products made by a successful jewelry designer, whose creations are modeled around special gems. One of the ideas that made Joan Rivers famous is the interchangeable jewelry sets. Zircon crystals are often combined with previous metals resulting in special and cheap pieces, so that anyone can afford to buy beautiful jewelry, and some of the best crystals used in the jewelry industry are those made by Austrian firm Swarovski.