Most people think of jewelry as earrings, pins, bracelets or necklaces. I have found something surprising that can also be considered jewelry.

The interesting thing is that it’s something we’re all familiar with- we often wear it ourselves, never thinking of it as a piece of jewelry. Curious? You should be! It is an underrated and undervalued item, and I’d like to see it more appreciated.

And no, I’m not talking about belly button rings or other even more (a-hem) unusual bodily adornments.

What I’m referring to is the lowly name tag, name badge or whatever else you’re used to calling it.

In the 20th century, some very famous artists decided to try their hand at jewelry making.
Most of these pieces were rather avant garde, such as the brooches crafted by Max Ernst and Salvador Dali.

The Dali brooch I’m familiar with is called “The Gold Cube Cross”, a remarkable piece rather hard to describe. It does involve a cross and some other sculptured jewels in a sort of spiked starburst. It is really quite lovely.

Perhaps it is these creative artists that began the modern interest in jewelry as wearable art. Some of our more modern artists are creating pieces that seem to shine with glorious personality and meaning, many of which can be seen in galleries both here and abroad.

In the 1920s and 30s there was an art explosion. If you’re a fan of deco jewelry, you will recognize it anywhere. The simple angles and fanciful designs were almost Egyptian in nature. And no small wonder; current to the time discoveries of ancient artifacts in Egypt helped inspire the deco movement.

Precious stones were sometimes used in deco pieces; one especially gorgeous design was by the firm of Linzeler and Marchak- a lady’s wrist watch decorated with enamel, emeralds and diamonds.

In the 20s, the flapper fashions called for long necklaces that reached below the waist. Some of these were also made of precious jewels, although the common girl was more likely to wear something created in one of the “modern” plastics, like baklite.

Some of the most colorful, marvelous jewelry was created during the years of the Renaissance.

Not just one type of gemstone, but several would be gathered together in a bright and playful concoction. A single necklace might include emeralds, rubies, sapphires, enamel work and pearls. Diamonds were used frequently, but gem cutters hadn’t figured out how to cut them yet, so they often appeared in their natural state, ground down a bit and polished.

This was the beginning of this gemstone’s importance in the world of fine jewelry making.