Baroque
ba·roque | bə-ˈrōk
adjective
A general term for bold, ornate, heavy looking ornamentation
This jewelry style is marked by pieces that are bold, ornate, and heavy-looking. The word Baroque refers to the time period between 1600 and 1775. During these times, jewelers moved away from creating jewelry pieces fashioned with colored enamel and began creating more unique masterpieces using such materials as pearls and boldly-colored gemstones. Jewelers’ skills at cutting gemstones greatly improved during the Baroque time period, which can be witnessed by viewing many authentic pieces from the Baroque time period that remain today. Popular bold jewelry pieces worn during this era in time included large necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, and tiaras. As explorers were coming back from far-off lands and returning with flowers from these new destinations, Baroque jewelers were influenced by their findings. As such, many Baroque jewelry pieces feature exotic gold and silver flowers that captured the hearts and imaginations of the Europeans who proudly adorned themselves with these creations.