ON THE COVER
Earrings and necklace of Tahitian, white and golden South Sea Pearls, and pink and green tourmalines by Assael International.
See Assael’s Cover Feature HIGHLIGHT

Over the last six or seven years, fashion and jewellery have, to a large extent, been all about excess with key directions being “bling,” “flashy,” “ostentation,” and “high prices.”

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So, where are we headed today? It seems that couturiers and jewellers are returning to reason and to moderation. This is due in large part to the financial tempest, of course. And most likely, the economic situation will continue to drive trends for the next few years as retailers and designers seek to meet the needs of consumers who are foregoing fads and fleeting trends in favour of more “classic” or staple items with a longer lifespan and higher real value. We are even seeing a move towards more “reality” clothes on the runways that people actually can—and will—wear. Even as the economy rebounds, which it seems to be doing, albeit slowly, the lessons learned during the last two years will carry forward.

In addition to economic influences, social and cultural transformations have meant that going green is now a definite part of the fashion and jewellery worlds. This ranges from organic fabrics to Fair-Trade materials, from eco-friendly metals and gemstones to ethical and sustainable mining practices, as well as retailers and brands offering a portion of their proceeds to environmentally active groups and causes.

As an accessory to fashion, jewellery with fresh designs is now being seen as an even more important part of a woman’s wardrobe since it can completely change an outfit, adding flair and individual personality to a basic piece of clothing. After all, why buy a new dress when swapping out pieces of jewellery can give a totally new look? We outlined the top twelve trends for fine jewellery this year in our Winter Trends & Colours 2010 issue, but in a few words, the main design directions to look for his year will be lots of colour, delicate and airy designs, hoops, cuffs, beads, new metals and finishes, and organic looks. Yet, we cannot discount the traditional and classic styles, such as pearls and diamonds set in white gold or platinum, that are perennial favourites.

In this, our Spring issue, we again focus on jewellery and fashion with our colour trends pages, while looking at the upsurge in designer silver pieces, as well as the continuing popularity of Nature-inspired themes, especially butterflies and snakes. Of course, we are keeping our pulse on the marketplace with reports on the first fairs of the year, namely, Vicenzaoro First, SIHH, Centurion, the various Tucson gem shows, and the IIJS Signature show in Goa, that took place in January and February. A common denominator to all these shows was a total turnaround in mood from last year—both by exhibitors and retailers. The ambiance is hopeful, even happy, as we head into 2010.

Just a quick note, too, to say that the entire team here at International Jewellery would like to thank all of you who have called or sent emails saying how much you like the new “fashion-oriented” look of the magazine. Your kind words are indeed encouraging.

Cynthia Unninayar