Although gold, as a case material, can be traced back to the Nuremberg Egg era of timekeeping (think mid-1500s/pre-pocket watch days), and was used in thread form as well as in the case to create what is hailed as the first ever wristwatch (crafted by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1810 for the Queen of Naples), it has seen its ups and downs in terms of popularity in the centuries since.
In terms of wearable trends, yellow gold still reigns supreme, particularly in the 20th century. The Art Deco era (think the Roaring Twenties into the 1930s) saw gold jewelry paired with colored gems and diamonds. The retro era, which encompassed the two decades that followed, allowed for chunkier gold designs and semi-precious stones to be used.
The 1980s were probably when yellow gold was loved the most, as it appeared in the form of large hoop earrings, multiple rings, layered chains, and watches. However, while the 1990s and 2000s saw a shift to silver, platinum, and white gold, 2010 brought the warmth of yellow back to fashion and accessories. The jewelry and watch industries haven’t looked back since.
Case in point: At this year’s Watches and Wonders in Geneva, Cartier released a slew of yellow-gold timepieces, from new Santos-Dumont and Baignoire models to the introduction of its new Myst collection.