Wholesale Fashion Jewelry - The Magic of Trends

Classic trends paused the fast-forward movement of wholesale jewelry that suddenly stood still and looked back. Meaning and beauty trumped bling and a new trend was surfacing.

First, what exactly is classic? Webster defines it as "serving as a standard of excellence: of recognized value". In wholesale fashion jewelry, if you like it, your daughter likes it, and your mom likes it-most likely it is classic. Classic has the universal appeal of art.

Classic trends have wholesale fashion jewelry searching the world and history for what is beautiful. The findings are amazing contributions rediscovered and returned from obscurity. Nature's contributions play big also in classic fashion jewelry. Let's begin with one of the biggest contributors-gemstone jewelry.

In the early stages of the trend, household names in semi precious jewelry made big impact-carnelian, tiger's eye, rose quartz, crystal quartz, red jasper,aventurine, and turquoise. These gemstones were often strung alone for jewelry that was totally gemstone in necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

But designers went a step farther creating wholesale gemstone fashion jewelry that incorporated semi precious stones into fashion designs with crystals, glass, and metal components. The result ran away with the show, gracing the pages of fashion magazines and showcases of boutiques and fine department stores.

Trends thrive on new developments and wholesale gemstone fashion jewelry keeps its prominence with the talent of fresh designs and addition of uncommon gemstones. Today's designs capture every color with less common semi precious stones like serpentine, amazonite, calcite, unakite, and every imaginable variation of jasper and agate. This is the lifeblood of the trend because without innovation trends begin to die.


Design also evolved. The beauty of traditional design remains at the center of this market, but more daring tangents provide 21st century looks to gemstone fashion jewelry. Beads spaced on multiple rows of coated wire and the simplistic design focusing on single bold drop with sleek lines brings a modern dimension to semi precious jewelry.





Gemstone jewelry continues to grow in popularity, thriving on innovation. Familiar semi precious stones like tiger's eye and rose quartz remain at the heart of the trend. Actually, the hot designs in gemstone jewelry through the summer months were the very familiar looks of turquoise and coral, but interest builds on the introduction of less familiar gemstones.




Unakite with its blotchy mix of olive and rose was unheard of in fashion a decade ago, and rises to the forefront of popularity today. The strong presence of olive as a neutral in the fashion palette certainly played a part in catapulting unakite to such a prominent position. The gemstone, discovered in recent history in South Carolina, takes its name from the Unaka Mountains.


The glassy sea-blue color of amazonite becomes a familiar gemstone today. Blue always seems to be on the season's fashion palette and this soft shade has the same calming effect as turquoise with a glassier appearance. Inclusions provide character with dark spotting that is nearly black.






Not so natural stones like candy jade introduce a surprise of color. Nature produces the semi precious stone, but not the color. A white porous stone that easily takes dye receives a gorgeous treatment of multicolor--often including pastel blue, pink, and green. The finished product has an irresistible attraction, produced by dying natural stone.





Add to this category dyed crystal quartz and you have a rainbow of color enhanced by human efforts. The clear quartz does not accept dye, but a process of heating and then dousing in cold water creates tiny fractures that do. You not only get color, but also interesting designs of the fractures inspiring the name, crackle.


Fire agate jewelry galvanizes attention with the pomegranate-like internal designs of small cells visible in the semi-transparent gemstones. The salmon pink color soothes while unusual patterns intrigue. The lapidary world argues over the name while consumers are enthralled with this interesting semi precious jewelry that delivers gorgeous bracelets and necklace sets.


Jasper comes in so many different patterns that designs are inexhaustible. A favorite is picture jasper that often creates scenes with the designs in the sliced semi precious stone. The pendant on the necklace shown is an ideal example. More often, the less interesting beige and brown beads of picture jasper become spacers and accents that build drama around other exciting semi precious stones. Jasper is so diverse that along with agate, it needs a lens of its own.


Agate provides the same unlimited bag of surprises. Japer and agate are cousins with jasper usually opaque and agate usually semi-transparent with circular banding. The sliced agate necklace shown reflects the distinguishing characteristics. Tree agate is almost an exception as it provides blotches of green on a white background that seems to lack the semi-transparency.




Black is so predominant this fall that gemstones in black, white, and a combination of the two will be very important. Blackstone delivers the dramatic black and howlite the white with zebra jasper and banded onyx providing a striping of the two.


Explore an interesting selection of semi precious designs at Gemstone Jewelry.

The search for beauty shifts from nature to human art in Murano style glass jewelry. Here again, there is no limit to color and design. Artisans of Murano Italy preserved this art form and continually developed it. As this untold beauty emerged from obscurity, the world began to imitate the process with new developments.

Murano style glass jewelry galvanizes interest with its endless surprise of designs in beads. Glass beading with foil inclusions are high on the list. Thin sheets of foil in silver or gold suspend in glass beads tinted with color. Popular shapes are flat ovals or tile beads. Designers arrange the beads in bracelet and necklace designs for head-turning results.




Another process uses suspended metallic particles to produce the goldstone effect in Murano style glass jewelry. Shimmering islands of metallic particles radiate sparkle of gold or silver. Swirls of color often accompany the sparkle for a mesmerizing effect.






Murano style glass also uses color alone to achieve magnificent results. These colors swirl or streak for endless surprises of beauty that can blend or contrast with any outfit. The glass art can also add popular seasonal themes to apparel in solid colors. Imagine the leopard print glass necklace set with a beige top. The same works with Dalmatian prints, zebra stripes, or tiger.


A cousin to Murano style glass is Millefiore. This glass process melts glass rods of different colors together and then slices them into beads. Viola!-instant glass beads with a surprising design of tiny flowers. The name actually comes from the Italian for a thousand flowers. The beads provide affordable fashion jewelry, but the highest level of this art becomes museum pieces.


Another relative in the glass jewelry family is goldstone. Tiny particles of copper or gold pepper glass with antique gold color for radiating sparkle with every movement. One legend about this art says monks of the Middle Ages first produced it. Goldstone doesn't always have to be antique gold in color. Midnight blue with sparkle from gold or silver particles provides stunning jewelry.


See more Murano style glass jewelry in necklace sets, bracelets, and earrings.

Glass jewelry can also take a turn towards simplicity. What can deliver the black so prominent this fall better than glass? The necklace set shown in dramatic black alternates with opalite beads. Opalite is another glass art that delivers milky white color with some fire and opalescence imitating opal. What an interesting combination this makes!



Glass bracelets also make a major quality statement with rich color and simple bold design. Take red for example, that finds a major place on the fashion palette and coordinates with black for a striking effect. Glass delivers this color with smooth shining beads for dramatic effects. Black looks equally as good as well as other colors produced in glass.



Glass creates pearl jewelry with elegance that is at the top the ladder, just one rung below genuine pearl. The weight and finish spells quality and what could be more classic! Glass pearl jewelry can be hand knotted for bridal to deliver formal elegance. It can also be bold with satiny colors that are rich.




Glass crystal opens another facet of this versatile medium that delivers jewelry in designs from fashion to formal. Faceted glass has an iridescent coating that provides shimmer that rivals lead crystal in beauty at a far more affordable price. This stunning jewelry can accessorize any formal occasion and provide colors to match prom and bridesmaid dresses.

See the amazing versatility of glass at Quality Glass Jewelry.

Shell jewelry that was once the trendy teen accessories of beach shops moves to the showcases of boutiques today as designers turn to nature for inspiration. Dyed mother of pearl delivers all the colors in the fashion palette while retaining its natural iridescence. Large MOP disks become popular pendants that deliver dramatic fashion statements that are no longer limited to the summer season.




Even the natural colors of brown lip and black lip mother of pearl work into jewelry designs that carry into the fall and winter season. See the necklace set shown with black lip mother of pearl dropping from a necklace of dyed freshwater pearls for fashion jewelry that is totally fall. The result is gorgeous, classic, and natural.



Other shell works into the scheme of designs for high fashion looks. Large disks of snowy white capiz shell surround the neck in the fashion jewelry that uses satin cord to deliver a splash of color. The very thin capiz shell adds drama, but not weight.






Bracelets are big in high fashion shell jewelry, providing stunning designs for every season. Dyed shell can deliver vibrant color for summer like in the trochus shell bracelet shown that shines with the iridescence that bleeds through. Natural white is equally as impressive. Abalone and black or brown lip mother of pearl reach into fall for more classic designs in jewelry.

Explore the new horizons of the beauty of the sea at Shell Jewelry.

Freshwater pearls provide classic jewelry that covers all seasons as well as all occasions. White freshwater pearls can be the utmost in elegance for bridal while dyed pearls can deliver colors to match a business suit or resort wear. Colors are endless and no other natural pearls can touch the affordability of freshwater pearls.

Freshwater pearls retain their iridescence even when dyed and become the important supporting cast in designs that focus on dramatic showpieces. The image above with black lip mother of pearl is a perfect example. What an impact these small pearls make in an overall look!

See imaginative design at Freshwater Pearl Jewelry.

Say "Victorian" and the mind sees the golden age in fashion jewelry and what could be more classic! Consumers have an infatuation with the era and wholesale jewelry that reflects Victorian designs has a magnetic connection with buyers that elevates the jewelry to elegance. So much developed in the reign of Queen Victoria and the twenty years afterwards that it becomes the bible of jewelry history. Certainly this has to be classic!

Antiqued platings revisit the era in necklaces with draped chain and pendants with filigree frames. Cameos, hand panted floral jewelry, and the dark colors of mourning jewelry that followed the death of Prince Albert are only a sampling of the many Victorian designs. Victorian jewelry goes wide and deep, but these looks leave no doubt about the inspiration. Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837 and reigned until 1901, leaving us a legacy that will forever inspire fashion jewelry.

Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and the Edwardian Age with stunning jewelry collars intertwine or closely follow the Victorian era and all contribute to the look back that fashion jewelry trends are taking. Art Nouveau flourished in the 1890s to early 1900s, distinguished by whip lash lines and themes of nature and feminine forms. Art Nouveau was a true trend of its days crossing into architecture and art. Today's classic trends in wholesale jewelry pay tribute to Art Nouveau by revisiting the art form with new designs and renditions of the originals.

The Edwardian Age immediately followed with collars becoming the fashion, reflecting the emphasis to the neck stirred by Queen Alexandria. The look continues to be called the Edwardian collar and finds its place in classic fashion trends, especially in formal jewelry.






Art Deco saw its rise a decade later with geometric designs in jewelry. Dominant trends cross lines for expression in diverse areas. Geometric lines influenced design in everything from automobiles to architecture, but jewelry recognizes it in the bar pins, rings, necklaces, and earrings of the 1920s and early 1930s.

Find Victorian designs under Fashion Jewelry Sets.

Classic trends are global and tribal jewelry certainly has an air of classic to it as it draws inspiration from deepest Africa, the indigenous designs of Central or South America, and our own American Indians. The primitive is not so primitive as it melts away sophistication and grounds us in reality that is so genuine. The most sophisticated shoppers connect to tribal inspired jewelry in high end boutiques and skyrocket its popularity.



Modern designers lean on the work of tribal craftsman to deliver jewelry with high tech equipment that was first laboriously produced by the handwork of skilled artisans. The needlepoint stone work of Zuni Indians that could take weeks or even months to produce becomes inspiration for fashion jewelry today. The heavy silver and turquoise designs of Navajos inspires affordable accessories in fashion jewelry. This wholesale jewelry doesn't pretend to be genuine, but flatters the real craftsman with imitation that accessorizes tribal and Aztec prints in apparel so well.

Venture into tribal inspired jewelry in High Fashion Jewelry.

Is there any jewelry style that holds to tradition more than rhinestone? Even the most contemporary designs have traditional inspiration that the eye perceives. Yet this timeless jewelry is never gone from fashion for long because the dazzle has no competitors in delivering the glitz of balls, pageants, and in an elegant way-bridal.

Preference for platings can subtly change from silver to gold, but silver never seems to leave the limelight because it adds so much to the intensity of the sparkle. Other subtle changes are adding a new dimension to rhinestone jewelry without sacrificing its traditional elegance. Plated metals are entering more into designs for a balance of sparkle and shine. Fringes or cascades of delicate plated chain, cupped metal backing of stones, and frames around rhinestones introduce this innovation. Still the eye knows this is rhinestone jewelry.

While fashion swings like a pendulum from classic to extreme, rhinestone jewelry remains solidly grounded in tradition. Hard to believe? Review rhinestone jewelry from the height of cinema in the fifties and early sixties, post-World War II, or the "Roaring 20s" and see how little this dazzling look has changed. Rhinestone jewelry is always classic.

Discover the versatility of designs at Rhinestone Jewelry.

Is there any difference between rhinestone and foil-back crystals? While the stones are the same, the production process is different. Rhinestone production delivers chain that designers solder to create the jewelry while crystals are loose and set into designs. And crystal jewelry, like rhinestone, certainly fits into the classic framework. Perhaps nothing is as classic as the crystal brooch. Inspiration comes from the Victorian era and all the jewelry history that followed. Desire for this crystal jewelry can rise to a feeding frenzy like it did for the Christmas of 2006 or it can quietly continue to sell adding elegance to suits, hats, handbags, and formal wear. Crystal brooches never go away.

Crystal jewelry also has an advantage of shapes and colors. Designs bring freshness to jewelry that is strangely classic and at the same always new. Brides and prom girls have a magnetic attraction to crystal jewelry that can be classic and fresh at the same time while providing colors to match prom and bridesmaid dresses. Crystal cubes spaced on multiple rows of monofilament is certainly contemporary, But the very word "crystal" spells tradition and elegance. Crystal jewelry stands the classic test-every generation enjoys it.

Find classic creations at Crystal Brooches.

Is it real? Only your jeweler knows when you are talking about cubic zirconia jewelry. CZs in plated settings have fooled onlookers since the synthetic diamond's appearance in 1976. Just mention cubic zirconia jewelry and the mind immediately imagines a solitaire pendant floating on a delicate chain.






Yes, this is realistic CZ jewelry, but only the tip of the iceberg for what cubic zirconia can do. What about the lavish diamond creations that we associate with functions of European royalty or the red carpet on Academy Award night? Cubic Zirconia jewelry also goes here in a spectacular way. Magnificent necklace sets provide the luxury with all the realism of guarded fortunes in diamonds and it's the realism that distinguishes classic cubic zirconia jewelry from bling.

Explore the range of CZs at Cubic Zirconia Jewelry.

It's hard to imagine wholesale jewelry without the craftsmanship of metals. But how the bar has raised in the age of classic! Let's begin with a leader in metal craftsmanship that is forever forging new trails of excellence. "Best Brand" settles for nothing less than superb excellence as they design and manufacture an exceptional line of metal jewelry with pendants as their keystone product.

The extensive pendant line travels from fashion designs to themes and when dimensional stampings from a thin sheet of steel deliver a statement with immediate recognition that evokes a feeling-that is art. This designer/manufacturer does it over and over for a never ending parade of surprises, reaching new heights of quality in metal fashion jewelry. Plating, polishing, sealed backs-there are no corners cut in this fabulous jewelry that is unbelievably affordable.


Today's metal bracelets in fashion jewelry also reflect the quality and timelessness of classic trends. Whether a smooth cuff bracelet, geometrics, Southwest inspired twisted cable or today's popular enameled cuffs-the fashion jewelry is a cut above with higher quality that measures up to classic.

Finally, necklace styles of multiple rows of chain are making a statement in today's wholesale jewelry market with workmanship that must have the weight and design of quality to fit in with such exceptional company. Mid-lengths with mixed chain use every imaginable plating-gold, bronze, silver and antiqued platings. Falls sees this important statement everywhere from fashion magazines to fine department store showcases.

Explore quality in fashion jewelry using metals under Pendants.

The evolution of wholesale jewelry sees familiar categories melt away. Lines between costume jewelry, fashion jewelry, gemstone jewelry, bridge jewelry, and even fine jewelry are blurred. We can define today's wholesale fashion jewelry as affordable and wearable art. Will it last forever? Obviously not, or it wouldn't be fashion. However, the extreme low end of costume jewelry most likely will disappear as government sets standards with lead content laws.

Each new season wholesale fashion jewelry adapts to the apparel consumers will be wearing. Designers preview the apparel for next season at fashion shows well ahead of the season. Sounds simple until add there dozens of shows, hundreds of designers, and diversity in every line. Wow! Now things really get complicated!

Yes, there are thousands of diverse designs parading the runways, but most fall under the umbrella of a dominant trend. Within the trend stories develop and these categories can become prevalent if shared by enough designers. Fashion forecasting services like Accessories Magazine visit all the shows, take thousands of pictures, and analyze the results to create the stories.

Color services like Pantone do the same and present a color palette for the upcoming season. (Find links for both below.) Results do not include every color or every design, but point out the important direction.

Next, it is the jewelry wholesalers' job to prepare fashion jewelry in the right styles and colors so retailers can have a successful season.

The mood of society plays heavily into trend developments and this season sees financial markets creating an overall sense of caution. So don't expect risky trend changes this fall as classic trends continue to dominate.

Necklaces see multiple chains in waist length return with a mix of design and size joined with strands of beading. Beyond that necklaces shorten up showing mid-size with beaded strands of gemstone or glass and some movement back to lucites and resins.

Choker length necklaces use dramatic size with semi precious stones set in metalwork and chain clustered with multiple beading. Chunky is in as well as color, creating the right ingredients for success in fashion jewelry. Black dominates this fall with shades of blue closely behind on the season's fashion palette (see the link below for Pantone's fall 2008 fashion color report).



Circles remain the leading shape in fashion--circles and concentric circles in pendants, necklace drops, and of course those big hoop earrings. But geometrics this fall are not always round with square bracelets frequently strutting the fall runways and hoop earrings opting for square shapes. Bold asymmetrical shapes bring freshness to chain whether short or long.



Global inspiration brings tribal designs to the forefront, making dramatic statements with antiqued and bronze plated metals that mix with beading for choker length necklaces that deliver high fashion. A narrow line separates primitive from retro as fashion looks back to the Victorian Era. Many Victorian creations found inspiration in the jewelry of India and Africa where Britain had a presence.

Nature continues to play big in fashion jewelry with shell, woods, and semi precious stones contributing to design. This is the classic road in necklace sets that is safe to travel this fall with glass added for a sophisticated delivery of color.

Earrings see the continuation of over-sized hoops and dramatic drops. Metal earrings with dangling filigree pear shapes are chic as well as bold beaded dangles. Glass as well as gemstone are big players in providing the classic in these drop earrings, but let's not forget pearls. Faux pearls as well as freshwater pearls bring elegance to fall fashion jewelry in earrings and necklaces alike. Long ropes accompany chains in necklaces and earrings use pearl for elegant drops and timeless buttons in white, cream, or rich colors.

Bracelets find cuffs, bold beading, and multiple bangles dominating fashion shows and leading fashion magazines. Mixed bangles and cuffs stack on both arms for an exaggerated look that is hardly business wear. Regardless, the message is bracelets are extremely important and this finds support in Accessories Magazine's 2007 year end report that recorded bracelets as the hottest jewelry category for department stores and major retailers. Metal cuffs and bangles enameled with color saw enormous popularity going into the spring and continue for fall. Gemstone and Murano style glass deliver color with size in bracelets that are both dramatic and classic.

Consumers continue to gravitate to classic designs in fashion jewelry. Fine department stores know this and fill their showcases with the timeless designs. The fall belongs to classic design in jewelry and spring will see the trend continuing with innovations that feed this golden age in fashion.

After a steady diet of bad news from the media, society will definitely be ready for an uplift in the Spring and the exciting new designs in fashion will do just that.

Let's begin something fun that picks up right where last summer left off-bright colors. The return of vivid color made a stir in the summer of 2008 and will be even more wide-spread in 2009 with fashion jewelry, hats, handbags, and other accessories giving life to a wardrobe with vibrant green, lime, red, pumpkin, blue, and purple. These colors are more primary while apparel will use secondary brights, but accessories will add the pop to the look.

Necklaces with bold beading and enameled metals will add sizzle to the fun palette. Glass jewelry, Murano style glass, and lucites give dramatic size as well as vibrant color. Wide cuffs and bangles deliver the same color pop whether enameled or lucite designs. Glass beading, both smooth and faceted, will serve up brilliant color with perceivable quality.




Brights create excitement with contrast, but gemstone jewelry, which is mushrooming in popularity, accessorizes with complimentary colors. Amazonite and turquoise compliment the blue, amethyst the dark lavender, and cherry quartz the orangey coral colors. Dyed quartz jewelry has a shade to match every color on the palette.



Personalities that prefer something more sedate will find the utmost in elegance in a fashion story Accessories Magazine calls High Society. Colors are soft with neutrals like vanilla and hues from soft pink to soft peach plus light sage and very pale blue. Gemstone jewelry enhances the elegance with complimentary color like rutilaited quartz that delivers a pale beige color or aventurine and tree agate for soft greens.

Shell jewelry also makes a stunning statement with beige and pink shades of mother of pearl or the snow white of capiz shell and natural iridescence of white MOP.

Eye-catching pendants on understated plated chokers make a simple compliment to this sophisticated family. Both plated and enameled pendants are players with silver plating always popular in summer months.

Pearls provide the height of elegance for this fashion story with choker and mid-length necklaces and the return of button earrings. Glass pearls give size and satiny color while freshwater pearls provide endless colors and are affordably genuine.

Fashion jewelry for spring continues to make a statement with dramatic size and the summer will see bright colors flourishing. Materials remain primarily glass and nature's contributions of gemstone, shell, and wood, but lucite and acrylics are gradually returning. Enameled metals enjoy another strong season and plating continues to soar in silver despite efforts to bring back gold. Fall saw a heavier use of leather and waxed cords in fashion necklaces and spring sees more satin cord, but plated chain continues to dominate the supporting role of necklaces.

The art and quality of components couple with the trend towards color and dramatic size to create a promising season for jewelry in the upcoming summer.

Henrik Vejlgaard in An Anatomy of a Trend details fashion's pendulum swing to opposites over the last 100 years. So when classic trends wind down, history shows we can expect something substantially different. Beneath the radar, future trends are already gathering steam. Instyle Magazine's November issue hints at the answer with an article entitled Biker vs. Boho. The last few fashion seasons witness an extreme look of black leathers called motorcycle looks. Oncoming trends have many small contributing groups in initial stages. Fashion movements of punk revisited, skater fashion, and grunge add some steam to the extreme look that is probably to outlandish for mainstream fashion.

The flip side is Boho, a throwback to Bohemian fashion of the sixties. Before giving credence to this style as the next major trend, let's look at other movements stirring in society. Consider the fuel crisis, lead laws in toys and jewelry, and overall concerns of the environment. The world view is moving towards environmentally solutions for the future. A tension builds between oil drilling and alternative fuels, regardless how realistic this is in the short term. Lead laws focus on jewelry and toys, but effect fabric dyers that need the mineral to give color to synthetic fabrics. Plating creates serious contamination that must be disposed of in a safe way. Environmental groups send scores of lobbyists to Washington to drum up support for the ecology in decision making. Eco-green becomes a household word.

Add this together and there is groundswell for a future trend-eco-green with natural fabrics and jewelry components. Fabrics are easy to imagine with wool, cotton, linen, silk, hemp, and flax. But jewelry is more puzzling. If this is to become the next major trend, designer must make a presentation and influential trendsetters must grab the look to start the ball rolling. Gradually trend-followers come on board and a new fashion statement takes hold. At present, classic trends are so deeply entrenched that a change won't happen soon.

Now back to the question of wholesale fashion jewelry in an eco-green trend. Fall fashion shows that previewed designs that are now hitting the retail floors accessorized many looks with drops supported on leather cord or beads spaced on waxed cord. Sheer ribbon is also popular for supporting glass pendants and many gemstone fashion jewelry designs separate statement beads with tiny bohemian glass, minimizing the use of plated metals. Of course the last two examples are classic looks rather than Bohemian, but demonstrate how jewelry can look good even when composition changes. How many people really noticed the lack of metals in the gemstone designs? Eco-green and Boho inspiration are contenders for the next dominant trend in fashion jewelry. Is this look powerful enough to capture that position? We don't have the crystal ball to see the future and answer the question; we can only carefully monitor the subtle changes in fashion as the future unrolls.