Fashion Costume Jewellery

Posts Tagged ‘Fashion Jewellery’

What do you think of when you hear the word “jewels”? My first thought is to the Crown Jewels held in the Tower of London. I love to go through the exhibition every time I am in London. I especially love the travellator section where everyone pushs to gain the best vantage point! Everyone loves viewing such exotic and amazing creations.

One step down from the Crown Jewels must be the great jewellery houses of the world – think Harry Winstone, Tiffanies and Freds. High quality, highly creative and highly priced beautiful jewels.

Now picture a young girl luxuriously pulling our beaded necklaces from an old jewellery box. That feeling of ownership and mastery over such valuables is priceless.

The majority of grown-up people, of course, just don’t have either any chance of owning the Crown Jewels or of shopping at Freds every week! So what does the word “Jewels” mean for us? For me, colourful jewellery like the larger and glamourous cubic zirconia come to mind. Diamond like iin their appearance, the cubic zirconia sparkle and shine and when deep, rich jewel tones (like Ruby and Amythst) are added – well, wearing a piece like this just feels like a million dollars.

Do let’s be honest, it is not what you spend on your jewellery that matters, it is how you feel when you wear it.

For me, buying a well made but not expensive cubic zirconia item (like the bracelet above) means that I don’t have to feel guilty when I have worn it once too often. The quality finishes (like rhodium and gold plate) mean my inexpensive jewellery will last quite a number of seasons.

What does the word “jewels” mean to you?

Fashion Jewellery is by name designed to work with the current fashions or trends of the moment, often inspired by catwalk creations, it is often seen to be transitory. In not too distant times, Fashion Jewellery was known as Costume Jewellery – that is jewellery to match your outfit (or costume).

If you see jewellery as transitory, it does not mean that you will wear something that is not well designed or constructed. Quality still matters. A piece of jewellery purchased to enhance an outfit can of course become a firm favourite and stay forever in your jewellery box, particularly in these times where fashions tend to be far more eclectic without the obvious fashion fads we have seen in the past.

Catwalk designers are also seeing a change in buying patterns and we are seeing far more bridging jewellery because of it. Bridging jewellery is where commercial fashion jewellery and the fine jewellery houses meet. Many catwalk designers who are already producing precious metal and gemstone jewellery are also now producing jewellery from acrylic and plated metals. The market for this type of jewellery is growing, even though the jewellery is seen as transitory and even though the jewellery is priced well above a High Street alternative simply because of the brand name attached.