Gemstones were very popular. The first pattern books appeared in the 16th century. Faceting became practical in the 17th century and diamonds became the favored gemstone, a position they still hold. Plastic was invented in 1835. Bakelite was in use by the early 1900s, by which time the Industrial Revolution had made mass-produced jewelry possible.
Plastic today comes in every color, shape and texture.
Rene' Lalique and the Art Nouveau movement to the United States. The design of the jewelry, rather than the materials from which it was made, became important. Organic materials, such as bone and horn, as well as imitation gems and other nonprecious materials, were extensively used. Known as costume jewelry, these designer pieces were wildly popular until the mid-1970s, when a resurgence in the popularity of gold overshadowed them. Jewelry today is made from every imaginable material and in a huge variety of designs.