With customers loving wearing their individuality, it is time to look out for an eclectic mix of conventional designing with modern sensibilities, when personalized jewellery will keep up the sustainability promise too
For a country that is known for its exquisite detailing and designs in jewellery, the Indian legacy designs will see a comeback in 2023. As a plethora of traditional jewellery designer’s step-in to fulfill the aspiration for customization, customers are only going to be spoilt for choices. Gone are the days when a handful of them could only promise the same conventional designs that were best suited for special occasions only. This year is demanding on an eclectic mix of conventionality with a touch of modernity and great quotient of daily functionality that is low on maintenance too.
Here are the trends that will rule the jewellery scene for 2023
Customization Ahoy! Be it refashioning and going the sustainable way of using heirlooms or ensuring the customer’s name initials feature in a piece of jewellery, the discerning clientele is keen on customization in daily wear and special occasion jewellery as well. Indeed, sustainability is on everyone’s mind and customers are exploring that option.
Refashioning & Reimagining: The trend will move towards using neckpieces as bracelets and pendants as earrings. It isn’t so much about the value proposition as much as it is about exploring experimentation with multipurpose jewellery for example. Look out for lengthy adjustable chains, stackable pieces and interchangeable jewellery throughout the year. These will be spotted in daily, lounge or cocktail ornamentations. Layering for cocktail and casual dressing is going to be seen massively amongst the fashion conscious.
Diamonds Are Forever: Indeed, diamonds continue to elude the Indian woman and man as well. The former is more in a position to invest in her own pieces of jewellery. Working women, mumpreneurs are also investing themselves in impressive daily wear diamond jewellery which is minimalistic, amalgamation of the East and West, without missing out on a dressy and smartness quotient. Whether it’s a business pitch meeting, a cocktail or networking event, women are seriously going to continue to invest in diamond jewellery.
Polki’s are the newbies: – Gone were the days when polki jewellery or uncut diamond jewellery only means bridal or heavy jewellery. There are a plethora of designs in polki jewellery from everyday essentials, to party wear and business meetings that are very modern and look good. In fact, lot of working women have developed a sudden taste in minimalistic polki jewellery which looks as good as any other jewellery.
Size Does Matter: The trend this year to look out for is the sizable pieces of jewellery honing the ears and fingers. Men and women alike are choosing for customizable sizes and shapes and round is not on their mind. Mundane is out and ‘individualization’ is the in thing. Customers are seeking their own shapes, textures and sizes in earrings and hoops are back with a bang. Stack rings, chunky stone settings, stacked bracelets are in demand. People continue to be able to make it to the headlines. So jewellery that stands out in an Instagram feed or in a picture opportunity continues to be hot in demand.
Colour My Jewels: Men as much as women are going to be experimenting with colored stones and lab grown precious ones too. As the world is moving towards reducing carbon footprint, the customer is seeking stones that can add to the sustainability narrative. Various hues in precious stones like rubies, sapphires, topaz, diamond to name a few stones, is going to be seen actively this season. Because lab grown stones are more flexible to customization, customers are excited to experiment and create their own colour palette with their jewellery pieces. We will see the emergence of mixed metal usage for the desire of colour play as well.
The Customer’s Mind
As the economy bounces back after a long pandemic induced hiatus, people are getting back to going to events, visiting friends, networking and making social appearances. But living in the moment has become the bigul call for all, irrespective of gender or age group. Discerning and accessory loving customers now want to hone pieces of jewellery that they can enjoy and feel epitomizes their personal style quotient.
While there is no urgency, there is a sense of immediacy to look their best too. Customers are also keen to invest themselves in pieces which are easy to maintain and high on performance. Apart from conventional gold, there is a growing preference for colored gold ornaments in traditional settings as well as platinum.
Jewellery on-the-go, is going to be trend for the year and we will see this catch phrase featuring in collections across India throughout the year.
About the Author
Paarth Khanna who is a Delhi based Jewellery designer and the third generation amongst the DRK Jewels. He envisions expanding the legacy at par with the world’s leading brands in design and luxury.
