This is a question that’s been put to me often since the term’s inception. My stock answer? I don’t know. That’s an excellent question for an AI bot tracking human behavior in real time. My customers are my only window into jewelry trends: sporting pictures of pieces to use as inspiration for custom work. What I can offer is a filter to help sort out which flash has substance to match.
There isn’t space here to cover all of this, but I can help you get started. Rule #1: Don’t confuse your feelings for the seller with the piece. Even great designers have bad ideas – I’ve melted many of them in the last year. The top three reasons for melting rings were:
- Discomfort of wear
- Inability to be sized or repaired
- Designs that didn’t age well
In most cases, the jewelry outlasted the trend that inspired its purchase.
There are good reasons to follow trends, too. Buying according to trends is more about belonging to a group and being recognized by that group than the needs of the individual. Supporting a cause, value system, or designer or brand that speaks to you and your beliefs is the epitome of voting your dollar – it’s how consumers shape the world. Whatever your reasoning may be, buy what YOU love. In the cosmic feedback loop of art reflecting life, and life reflecting art; it makes your world a better place.
