Artisan Made Jewellery for All Your Many Moods

Among the most popular articles about artisan made jewellery online are “trends” articles – the type that tell you this year, it’s all about skinny bracelets or bold, colorful pendants or beads strung on silver chains. And while that might be helpful for the trendy and fashion-conscious, it actually is contrary to the very essence of artisan made jewellery – its individuality and uniqueness. When you buy a piece of hand-crafted jewelry, you are literally purchasing a one-of-a-kind item that is the embodiment of the artisan’s creative vision. If you want to be unique, why would you then obfuscate the beauty by following a trend?

Therein lies the conundrum of buying “trendy artisan made” pieces. Of course, there will be trends and fashions. And following the trends or choosing jewelry that’s in fashion this season doesn’t negate the creative vision of the artists who make the jewelry. They each bring their own unique point of view to a popular material or a style that’s suddenly in demand. The trend may be for bold, quirky necklaces and Flintstones beads, but there are limitless ways to interpret that trend. Necklaces made of oversized faceted beads have a completely different look and feel than necklaces crafted of carefully chosen and polished gemstones even though they both fit the general trend.

That’s the essence of choosing trendy, fashionable artisan made jewellery – finding pieces that stretch the trend without breaking it and show off your own quirky, delightful, delicate and beautiful personality. Not sure how to do that? Consider some of these suggestions for ways to take a trend and make it your own.

Gemstone Rings

From faceted birthstones to polished, enormous cabochons, gemstone rings are a major player in fashion jewelry this year. The trend is giving jewelry designers a wide range of fun interpretations to play with, from swirl settings to stunning semi-precious stones that really show off their beauty in larger cabochon cuts. Lapis lazuli, chalcedony and lace agates are examples of gemstones that seldom make it into the fashion jewelry lines because their unique natural characteristics make it impossible to offer a “standard” look. Choose offbeat gemstones and mix them with settings that suit your personality and make you feel gorgeous.

Pendants and Charms

Pendants are another major artisan made jewellery trend this year, and another trend that is very easy to personalize and make your own. The length for necklaces this year is breastbone, but the pendant can be just about anything that strikes your fancy. One of the most exotic looks is the perfume bottle pendant – a very grown-up and sophisticated version of bubble pendants. Others include stamped metal pendants and with matching charms for bracelets.

Don’t be afraid of trends in artisan made jewellery. Consider them an opportunity to show off your personality and your own personal style.

Trends in Artisan Made Jewellery for the Holidays

Artisan made jewellery has made a comeback in a big way over the past couple of years. Gone are the days when the only jewelry you saw on the runways was major bling from big name jewelry stores. These days, the models are far more likely to be sporting earrings and bracelets and pendants that have been lovingly hand-crafted. If you’re looking for the hottest fashion jewelry trends to top off your outfits this year, these are some of the trends you should be looking for in artisan made jewellery.

Layered Pendants

Last year, pendants were long, clunky and funky, featuring gemstones and beads in fanciful colors and patterns. Those pendants are still in fashion, but they’re only part of the story. They range in size from miniature charms to oversize beads and gemstones, often in multiple. The big news in jewelry styling? Layers of necklaces in different lengths all worn together to create a fashion statement.

Long, Fabulous Earrings

Length is still a big factor in artisan made jewellery, but this year it’s all about the earrings. Shoulder dusters and chandeliers are the next big thing and you’ll see them everywhere from the runways to the office. Look for delicate silver chains with crystal beads in an array of colors to go with every outfit in your wardrobe.

Go for Baroque

The last few years have featured conservative jewelry – button earrings, slim bracelets and understated necklaces. This year, baroque is busting out all over. You’ll see news anchors sporting oversize, chunky pink beads, jewel-encrusted bangle bracelets and gemstone rings that make the crown jewels look sedate.

Shine It On

Forget the antiqued metal finishes. This year, it’s all about the shine and shimmer. It doesn’t matter what the metal is as long as it’s polished to a mirror-bright finish. From the office to the dance floor, you’ll be seeing a lot more flashy, fabulous metals polished to the chrome finishes.

Stamp It Out

Hand-stamped metal jewelry is still big this season, and you’ll see lots of examples. Mother’s pendants, hand-crafted charms and commemorative artisan crafted jewellery pieces are destined to outlast the trends and become hand-me-down heirlooms.

More than anything else, this season’s biggest trend is the hand-crafted look. This year, look for artisan made jewellery that looks like it was crafted by hand. It’s a welcome and refreshing change from the years of cookie-cutter costume jewelry trends.