Cultural Influences Characteristics

There are parallels in many areas: a carefree mix of style and cultural influences characterizes the overall trends in the design field of today. For jewelry, this trend points to a variety of possibilities of form, color, and material. Middle Eastern, Asian, and African influences, the hippie look, and retro themes come together in a world that has taken the principle of "anything goes" to heart.

Along with a resurgent acceptance of opulence and sensuality in jewelry, yellow gold is experiencing a comeback. The structure of jewelry often reflects that of preferred modern materials such as lace, fabric, fringe, and felt.

Young people's and purists' first choice are platinum, silver, and stainless steel - the representatives of the color white.

Surfaces demonstrate lavish handling. Alongside matte and polished surfaces, oxidation, etching, and engraving add to the finishing touches that have lent jewelry a new dimension. The use of unusual materials such as wood, leather, shells, or diamonds that seem to float in sapphire glass makes for a fresh, attractive aesthetic.

In terms of gemstones, the order of the day is no longer "either or," but rather "as well as". Diamonds in the most varied cuts complete with richly colored gems for the admiration of viewers. Even the shite of a diamond is no longer necessarily a flawless white. But the luxury of colored stones, especially black diamonds, is available only to a few. Earth tones are one new trend that also shows up in the less expensive alternatives, such as zirconium. In addition to classic favorites such as sapphires, emeralds, and rubies, stones in pastel tones represent modernity and beauty. Citrine, tourmaline, peridot, and aquamarine round out the feminine spectrum of colors. The lightness and wide variety of earth tones available from amber allow for modern, opulent pieces that are not too weighty.

Lightness is also a theme in the area of gold jewelry. Worth is no longer judges on the basis of weight alone.

Today's new, completely different design has given rise to a new passion for pearls. Fascinating necklaces, romantic combinations of cultured pearls, gold, and diamonds, and a galaxy made up of thousands of small pearls strung on fine steel wire and floating on one's arm all show the wide variety of possibilities for pearl jewelry freed from traditional expectations. kph