Two things that famed jeweler Neil Lane is synonymous with are Art Deco pieces and engagement rings. In fact, the famed jeweler has even had an Art Deco jewelry exhibit shown at the Louvre in Paris. For virtually all women, a beautiful engagement ring is a true testament of love. When it is a Neil Lane Art Deco engagement ring, it feels more like a testament to the kind of love you only see in fairy tales.
A Neil Lane Art Deco engagement ring is truly a work of art. With amazingly ornate settings, huge gems of all sizes and colors, and breathtaking diamonds, these rings are amazing period pieces that even many years later are incapable of being perfectly imitated. These jewels are considered to be true classics, perhaps leading to the reason so many celebrities swear by the designer and the collections.
The Neil Lane Art Deco engagement ring is certainly a remarkable piece. The designer in one of the most trusted in the jewelry business, and has designed wedding rings for such celebrities as Marcia Cross from television’s Desperate Housewives, Debra Messing of Will and Grace Fame, singer/songwriter Gwen Stefani, and most recently actress Jenny Mollen who wed American Pie actor Jason Biggs. Lane also designed the ring Ellen DeGeneres gave to now wife Portia de Rossi.
While a Neil Lane Art Deco engagement ring is in a class of its own, the Art Deco engagement ring as a whole is experiencing a remarkable surge in popularity. True original period pieces, crafted between the 1920’s and 1930’s, are remarkably hard to find these days. While the style was remarkably popular in its heyday, the Art Deco movement was brought to a halt by a chain of world events.
The stock market crash in 1929 led to a global financial crisis, leaving many unable to afford the elaborate jewels. World War II seemed to finish off the remnants of the movement, as men were called away to war and funds diverted away from extravagances and put instead toward the cost of living. In addition to a halt of jewelry production, a great deal of jewelry was destroyed in this period for materials. In a post war world, too much money was needed for reconstruction to worry about such luxuries as large jewelry.
Because of this chain of global events, the Art Deco movement was brought to an abrupt halt. This explains the rarity and value of every extravagant art deco engagement ring and why they are so precious as to command an exhibition in the Louvre, one of the premier art museums for the entire world. All genuine Art Deco pieces are considered rare, and many hold staggering values due to a combination of rarity, beauty, and elaborate design.
The Art Deco movement was remarkably popular even in its time, sparking the creation of a large market for costume jewelry. During the depression and even leading into the postwar era, people longed for the beauty and style of the jewelry associated with the Art Deco movement. Unable to afford the jewels, manufacturers offered beautiful jewelry that was created in the same style as Art Deco pieces, but crafted out of manufactured jewels and even plastic. This helped many people to see beauty in darker times and to help offset the financial losses they all experienced.
Despite the financial toll of the war, many people held on to their Art Deco jewelry. To this day, pieces are frequently found at estate sales and auctions, held by a single owner since the day they were purchased. Neil Lane is not known in the same way as many celebrity jewelers, for loaning out expensive Art Deco jewelry, but instead sells the jewelry frequently to interested parties. Many clients are in fact celebrities, but the Neil Lane jewelry line has a large customer base of jewelry collectors of all types.
Today, approximately eighty years after the beginning of the Art Deco movement, the elaborate and stunning jewelry pieces are still as highly treasured as they once were. While even modern fashions have a remarkably short shelf life, Art Deco remains on of the most influential and consistently popular eras in both art and jewelry. Whether discussing a unique and gem filled antique brooch or a Neil Lane Art Deco engagement ring seen on a celebrity or at an art show, there is little doubt that a true period piece from the Art Deco era is a genuine conversation starter. Art Deco was a period of high style and elaborate design, and the jewelry created during this era has truly withstood the test of time.