I obtained a 100-year-old catalog made by a jewelry store in London. While the beauty of the binding reminded me of the high level of British culture at the time, I was also surprised to see how well most of the jewelry shown in the catalog has stood the test of time. The fundamental styles of jewelry were already well-established by that time.

A close look reveals that there were fixed rules regarding the use of gemstones. The smaller a gemstone was, the more likely it would be used with many other small stones to create a large area of brilliance. On the other hand, large gemstones having sufficient beauty by themselves were made using simple designs to emphasize their impressive nature.

What about now, 100 years later? As a result of an emphasis on “price points,” the market is full of pieces such as those with just a few small gems in trendy precious-metal designs or solitaire rings with undersized diamonds. While these pose no problem if they are purchased with the understanding that they are mere fashion, they cannot be expected to have the true value of timeless jewelry that can be worn over the ages.

The styles of jewelry appearing in this 100-year-old catalog that have survived to this day can be fully expected to endure for the next 100 years as well. This catalog provides a lesson in the true value of jewelry.