Beyond Jewelry Trends in 2023: Appreciating Timeless Fine Jewelry

Understanding the Importance of Timeless Fine Jewelry

18k Gold and Diamond Medallion Pendant

Throughout history, jewelry has always played an important role in human adornment and the 21st century is no different. Since 2020 there has been a large shift in the perception of fashion and style. Due to the pandemic, the world became familiar with lockdowns and “working from home”. These realities are now self-evident in our fashion.

According to a Harper’s Bazaar article: The shift toward using jewelry for a true personal statement has been a long time coming. "[During] the past two years with the pandemic, everyone needed colorful, uplifting, [and] fun jewelry, as a way to boost their moods," explains Francesca Simons, a fine jewelry publicist who launched her own consultancy in 2016.

“Elegance:
dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style”

I can attest to the statement of “a true personal statement”. As a working jeweler, I surprisingly worked through the pandemic as soon as New York City re-opened in the summer of 2020 and as a custom-design jeweler, I worked intimately with clients to bring their thoughts and ideas to life. As a result, I also noticed trends in fine jewelry that were marked by the economic state of America and the world. There seemed to be a return to timeless fine jewelry with a touch of personality. A return to personal elegance.

Mens Custom Gold Cufflinks

Firstly gold resonated strongly as the ideal precious metal. I was not surprised especially as historically in times of economic uncertainty, gold’s reputation rises up. Its innate value of preciousness remained intact in these times. Gold jewelry is found in ancient cultures of Africa, Asia, Europe, India, North America, Mesoamerica, and South America and it graces museums and collections throughout the world.

Gold has always attracted the human eye and its luster has made it a perpetual sign of prosperity and wealth. Personally gold always reminds me of the time thread of humanity, as its appeal dates as far back as the 5th millennium BC.

Goldsmith and his apprentice, Kumasi, Ghana. 1891

As much as I could feel the returning presence of strong gold jewelry, I also noticed the designs were more thoughtful. Clients were drawn to the intimacy of personal stories versus broader fashion trends. It became a quest to memorialize personal moments of success or celebration in a trying season. A desire to showcase a gold coin from a personal memory of a beloved country to starting a new life chapter of marriage with cufflinks based on a grandmother’s ring design of a family mark.

Timeless Gold Jewelry (Image by Jide Odukoya Photography)

As we start the New Year 2023 and you take the time to think of your timeless fine jewelry pieces consider the chapter of your life, the memories you resonant with at this time and the dreams you hope to accomplish in this year. Let these thoughts inform your design process and foster a beautiful creation that lasts for years to come.

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