Jewellery Trends of the Past the Bold 1980s

If any decade did jewellery loudly, it was the 1980s. After the funky styles of the 1970s, the eighties took everything to extremes, with bold, oversized pieces designed to make a statement and turn heads. Understanding this big, bright era helps you recognise genuine vintage finds and channel its confident spirit into your own collection. This is the next instalment of our series on jewellery trends of the past, exploring the 1980s, with help from the antique specialists of Hatton Garden, London's diamond quarter in the EC1N postcode.

The Big and Bold Look of the 1980s

Fashion in the 1980s was all about making an impression, and jewellery followed suit. Clothes were designed to turn heads, and that same confident attitude shaped the accessories of the decade.

Three trends defined the look, beads, jelly bracelets and oversized hoop earrings, which almost every woman embraced at some point. More traditional pieces such as pearls and costume jewellery also kept a large following throughout the decade.

Brooches enjoyed a major resurgence too, though in a far more dramatic form than their dainty 1950s precursors explored earlier in our series on jewellery of the past.

Precious Metals and Plastic Side by Side

The 1980s catered to every budget while keeping the same bold spirit. For the wealthy, large, chunky necklaces and bracelets were crafted from precious metals such as gold.

For everyone else, colourful plastic was the order of the day, allowing the same statement scale at a fraction of the cost. Whatever the material, the goal was identical, to make the wearer stand out from the crowd.

That democratic mix of high and low is part of what makes 1980s contemporary pieces so collectable today.

Fun fact: The 1980s power-dressing trend helped drive a boom in bold brooches, often worn on the shoulder of a tailored jacket as a deliberate symbol of status and confidence.

Recreating the 1980s Look Today

The unapologetic glamour of 1980s jewellery makes it great fun to revisit, whether you choose genuine vintage or a modern piece inspired by the era. Think big hoops, bold colour and statement scale.

Hatton Garden, with more than 50 stores offering vintage and modern jewellery, is an ideal place to find treasures from the decade. Its specialists can help you tell authentic eighties pieces from later imitations.

If the big, bold 1980s appeal to you, visit the stores of Hatton Garden, and look out for the final instalment in our journey through jewellery trends of the past.

Browse the whole series: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.