Customized jewelry lets the stylish lead the pack
NEW YORK - Style has taken a turn toward individualism, with fusionists making personal statements in various ways, such as combining couture garments with mass market clothing, and throwing a few vintage finds into the mix. With this trend afoot, jewelry has become another way for shoppers to individualize.
The only rule seems to be the more, the merrier: Multiple brooches, layered necklaces and mixed bangle bracelets are all helping women express their individual style. Plus, designers are creating new versions of personalized jewelry featuring initials, lockets, secret messages and places for engraving.
Message Connexion bracelets allow consumers to select the colour of the leather band and the style of the bracelet's "envelope," available in stainless steel, 14- or 18-karat white or yellow gold, with or without diamonds. The company then creates personalized, engraved messages to fit inside the envelope of the jewelry.
"Initially it started out as a gift between romantic partners, but now it's developed into a trend where groups of friends come in to buy them, to have special sayings or dates inscribed," says designer Robbi Potter.
New York-based company Photograve offers a new take on lockets, with laser-engraving technology that places colour or black-and-white pictures onto sterling silver or gold.
Do-it-yourself charm bracelets are another one-of-a-kind offering. A new Links of London outlet that recently opened in New York lets customers actually craft their own bracelets at the store's "charm bar."
Message Connexion bracelets let purchasers personalize the jewelry's envelope, along with the message contained inside. |
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