Transforming jewelry is a piece with a well-thought-out functional design that can change its form, allowing the owner to adapt it to different occasions. And if you think that jewelers have come up with this kind of jewelry relatively recently and that it is the result of modern solutions and materials, you are deeply mistaken!
Accessories capable of transformation have their roots in ancient times. And today we are going to share this fascinating history with you. Get ready, because there are a lot of unexpected things to discover!
History of the origin
The idea of transforming jewelry appeared long before the advent of modern technologies. According to historians and archaeologists, the very first such designs were found in ancient Rome and Egypt. There, people made jewelry that could perform several functions. Thus, rings were transformed into signet seals, and multi-layered bracelets could be worn as neck chains. However, it cannot be said that these types of accessories were quite common, because not everyone could afford them.
The real heyday of transforming jewelry began in the late Renaissance and reached its peak in the Rococo period. These times were characterized by the development of art, the rise of the economy, and the craving for luxury and beauty. So, jewelers began to create magnificent and complex transformable designs that were thought out to the smallest detail.
During this historical period, the first transforming earrings appeared. They could be worn both short and long. Also, luxurious necklaces that could be disassembled into separate units were popular. Each of these units could be used in different ways. Some wore them as brooches, while others liked to use them as earrings. Craftsmen tried to offer their customers something unique and multifunctional.
A lot of famous brands from the last century also had transforming adornments in their collections. Here are, for example, masterpieces from the Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry house:
From Van Cleef & Arpels website
Both designs from the photo can be transformed with the help of a functional zipper. When it is unzipped, the piece is an accent V-shaped necklace. But when it is zipped, the length of the jewelry becomes shorter, allowing it to be worn as a bracelet.
These vintage designs based on René Puissant's sketches were created in the 1950s. However, the very idea of such accessories, which Renée, by the way, took from the Duchess of Windsor, appeared in the 1930s.
In order to create the necklace-bracelet from the first photo, the craftsmen used yellow gold and small round-cut diamonds.
The second design is more complex. The jewelers made it of pink gold and complemented it with precious stones of different colors. We can see in this piece round, square, oval and baguette cut diamonds. Also, there are more than 45 pear-cut rubies and a few round and oval sapphires that dilute the composition with their color.
Some interesting facts
A large number of famous personalities adored transforming jewelry for its versatility and style. Among them was Coco Chanel, famous for her love for non-standard solutions in fashion. She often wore brooches that could be transformed into pendants or elements of luxurious necklaces.
Another well-known fan of transforming jewelry was Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and at the same time an Oscar-winning American actress. (By the way, we recommend a fascinating movie about the life of this amazing woman - Princess of Monaco). One of her favorite pieces of adornment was a tiara, which the princess could sometimes wear on her neck for informal evening events.
Modern transforming jewelry
Today, transforming jewelry continues to gain popularity with a new wave. Modern technologies and materials allow jewelers to create even more complex and sophisticated pieces. For example, you can come across necklaces that transform into bracelets or necklaces that are adjustable in height and replace several accessories at the same time.
Here are, for example, transforming necklaces by Piaget and Boucheron:
From the Piaget and Boucheron websites
In addition to our classic Espacio transforming necklace, which imitates these famous brands but exceeds them in terms of functionality, we have also developed a completely unique piece of jewelry called a cuff-necklace, which we produce in several designs. Cuff-necklaces can be worn both on the ear and around the neck.
By the way, in the near future we will present a new model of the cuff-necklace, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date!
Orxata's philosophy lies in creating transforming jewelry that allows every woman to express her creativity and feel like a designer of her own accessory. You won't find a brand like ours anywhere else, because only in our catalog all jewelry can be transformed into 3, 7, or even 10 ways! Choose necklaces, earrings, unique body chains, and other products of the brand and enjoy ingenious engineering solutions!
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