The Industrial Age paved the way for various accessory trends to become more accessible to a broader group of people. With the birth of the machine, innovative techniques in jewelry arose. Electroplating allowed thin layers of gold and silver to be combined on a metal base sheet. This technique introduced a new collection of jewelry choices that were more lightweight and affordable compared to the pricier and heavier pieces created with precious metals. Engraved gold-filled bangles with intricate etched designs were highly sought after, many of which were inexpensive and available to the average citizen. Mass quantities of gold-filled bangles, lockets, and large brooches were being produced by machines and displayed in jewelry catalogs, featuring a variety of styles for buyers to choose from. High-quality and fashionable choices were now available to people from various economic backgrounds, forever changing the jewelry industry.
Along with changes in production, techniques in jewelry engraving advanced as well. Metalwork stamping was a popular decoration choice on Victorian Era jewelry. Although many metal-based accessories were still engraved by hand, advanced designs were embedded with machinery. Taille d'Epargne was a widely used enamel technique used on gold-plated jewelry. The innovative approach involved engravings incised in metal, creating intricate black enamel designs and patterns. The practice originated in England, and variations of the designs can be seen throughout American-made styles.
Before the Verneuil flame-fusion process of creating synthetic rubies and sapphires was commercially available in the 1900s, earlier versions of imitation gemstones were produced in the Industrial Revolution Era. Often referred to as paste stones, finely cut glass and crystal were available in different colors and of excellent quality. Although these permanently foiled paste stones were cut by hand, they were integrated into many machine-made mass-produced jewelry selections.
