What first reads as pavé diamonds are, in fact, steel beads that have been meticulously faceted. Born in mid-18th century workshops, cut-steel jewelry was assembled from these tiny mirror-like beads that were riveted to metal forms, and when linked together became sparkling jewelry. In candlelight, their cool tone rivals that of rose-cut diamonds, an effect Georgians adored.

Cut steel sits at the intersection between engineering and elegance. It is remarkable that an industrial material could become elegant jewelry whose fans spanned from royalty to a rising middle class. Skilled jewelers magically transformed plates of steel into buttons, earrings, and necklaces that often showcased whimsical silhouettes like butterflies, anchors, and flowers.