Modernist heavy barrel ring

The saying goes less is more, but that did not apply to the 1980s. Fashion, music, and jewellery embraced maximalism without restraint. Rebel Madonna, rule-breaking Cher, fresh-faced Brooke Shields, and the androgynous David Bowie all left their mark on this opulent decade. Where fashion favoured excess in layers and texture, jewellery followed suit, with ropes of pearls, gold chains, and charms worn all at once. Scale was everything. Showstopping necklaces, button-sized earrings, and stacked bangles and bracelets dominated.

The glitz and glamour of television shows like ‘Dallas’ fuelled an insatiable appetite for sparkle. Pavé settings became a staple in both costume and fine jewellery, often layered side by side. Princess Diana’s love of coloured gemstones, particularly blue sapphire, opened the public’s eyes to alternatives to diamonds. It was also a time of rediscovery, as pieces from past generations were reworked and worn anew, with old watch chains transformed into the T-bar necklaces that remain enduring today.