Can I wear my Deco rings every day?

Platinum is highly durable, making it suitable for regular wear. It resists bending and holds diamonds securely, even in very fine settings. However, you need to consider the specific gemstones. Emeralds and opals are brittle and can chip if you strike them against hard surfaces. Settings with intricate millegrain edges will eventually rub smooth with constant friction. Save the delicate architectural pieces for occasions where they will not take heavy knocks.

My grandmother left me this heavy geometric necklace set with black stones and I just wondered how you tell if the black parts are onyx or enamel?

Onyx feels cold to the touch and has a solid weight. When you look at it under a loupe, you might see tiny natural inclusions or surface scratches, but the colour remains opaque and flat. Enamel is glass fused to a metal base. If you check the edges, you can sometimes spot where the enamel meets the metal border, and any chips will look like broken glass rather than fractured stone.

How do double clip brooches actually work?

A double clip brooch consists of two symmetrical dress clips that slide onto a central metal frame. When joined, they form a single large brooch. You detach them by pressing a small hidden clasp on the reverse. The individual clips were traditionally worn on dress straps or either side of a neckline.

I keep reading about calibre cut rubies in bracelets but I do not really understand what makes them different from normal square stones you see today.

Calibre-cut stones were custom-shaped to fit a specific space within a single piece of jewellery. Lapidaries worked alongside jewellers to cut these gems into precise geometric shapes that slotted together without gaps. Modern square stones are usually cut to standard dimensions first, and the mounting is cast to fit them. The Deco method required cutting the stone to fit the mount, allowing for those seamless, sweeping borders of colour. This technique demands a high level of hand-craftsmanship and significant waste of the rough gem. It is rarely done today outside of bespoke commissions.

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Art Deco Jewellery

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Art Deco jewellery combines sharp geometric forms with high-contrast gemstones and sleek metals. These linear, structured pieces were worn to complement the dropped waistlines and bare arms of the 1920s and 1930s, shifting focus away from traditional delicate curves towards modern industrial design.