In the 1920s and 30s, as Art Deco became fashionable, jewellery design changed dramatically. It was not only the influence of Art Deco and other Modernist art movements that brought this about, but also the changes in women's fashion. Out went long dresses and long hair, in came short skirts and a cropped cut and so jewellery also changed to complement the new look.

Short hair meant that women could wear long dangly earrings, some reaching as low as the shoulders. The famous flapper shape, thin and flat chested, was complemented by long necklaces hanging down as far as or below the woman's natural waist. The fashion for sleeveless dresses encouraged woment to wear bracelets around wrists or the upper arm. This period also saw the rise in popularity of wristwatches for women. The use of brooches changed too. Formerly they had been reserved for evening wear, now they adorned coat collars, cloche hats, straps and belts.