World War II forever altered the world’s social, cultural, and political landscapes. The era’s fashion was also influenced by it. In keeping with the times, women’s clothing became more streamlined and more straightforward due to restrictions on the availability of materials. Several factors contributed to the shortage of base metals commonly used in costume jewelry during World War II: As a result, many Sterling Silver jewelry items were produced by the jewelry industry. A vermeil finish was applied to Sterling silver when a gold color was desired.

In retro vintage jewelry, Art Deco style elements like angular shapes, sparkling rhinestones, and some colored glass stones can be seen because the Retro jewelry period was immediately following the 1930s Art Deco period. Initially, it was a small and delicate style, but it quickly evolved into more extensive and bolder designs with brightly colored gemstones. Therefore, wartime outfits would benefit significantly from adding a few eye-catching jewelry pieces.

As a result, many retro or vintage jewelry pieces feature floral motifs. Glass stones were often used to replicate the petals of flowers, while Sterling silver was used to represent both the leaves and stems. To add a little sparkle, smaller, clear rhinestones were used.

Vintage silver jewelry is typically marked with “STER” or “STERLING.” There were no “925” stamps in use until a long time after that. Most of the designs were stamped and machine-created when it came to jewelry, which was in keeping with the times. Despite the scarcity of materials, manufacturers took great care to ensure that the quality of the jewelry reflected this.