Meredith Lepore

Hi, I am writing an article for Only Natural Diamonds magazine about the history of Belle Epoque diamond jewelry and I need experts to give insight. If you could email back answers that would be great. They don't have to answer all of them. Thank you! In your view, what distinguishes the Belle Époque from the late Victorian period in purely jewelry terms? How did the increased supply of diamonds in the late 19th century change design possibilities? What role did the Old European cut play in the overall Belle Époque aesthetic? How transformative was platinum for jewelry design compared to gold and silver? What specific setting techniques made Belle Époque jewels possible? Do you consider Belle Époque jewels to be more technically advanced than what came before — or simply more refined? Why was 18th-century French design such an important source of inspiration at this moment? What are the key structural features you look for when identifying an authentic Belle Époque jewel? Belle Époque jewels are often transformable — how important was versatility to elite clients? How were these pieces meant to move on the body? Were they designed with specific garments or social settings in mind? How did houses like Cartier and Chaumet define the look of the period? Who was buying these jewels, and how did that clientele differ from earlier in the century? How did the “American heiress” influence design and scale?