Jewelry Trends 2013

Jewelry trends typically are forecasted from the three R's: Red Carpet, Runway & Real Life. Here is a quick list of trends the Mokada ladies think you should be looking for in 2013.

Shine bright like an emerald. Pantone just named emerald the colour of the year and we've already seen stars hit the red carpet fashioning this brilliant gem. International mining firm Gemfields is aiming to do what De Beers has done for diamonds; making the emerald a standard household item. Emeralds and rubies are the second hardest gemstone next to a diamond and make ultra unique engagement rings for those looking to break the mould.

Snakes and social ladders.  Love it or hate it, we're going to snakes trickle down from the red carpet. Rachel Weisz shines in Bulgari's Serpenti Collection this runway season. She's often the face of classic beauty and we love how she's showing off her edgy side in jewel adorned serpents. Watches, arm bands, bracelets and even clutches have taken shape to our slithery friend... And we love it.

Stacking, stacking, stacking. The "stackables" ring trend has been around for the past few years but this year we are seeing it more than ever. One of my favourite new trends for this year is the knuckle ring. Stacking a mixture of gold, fashion and thin rings and topping the look off with a few tiny rings on the your first knuckle is a perfect hipster-chic combination.  We'll also see the colour blocking trend move to your arm candy.

Gifts for Generations

A very close friend of ours (Mona's best actually) had struggled with cancer for a number of years and although the outcome was bleak we had still called Grace a survivor. Over the past few visits Mona had  been dealing with the estate as well as specific items she would have liked passed down. Clothes, furniture, decor, even adorned trophies and monies were not the first to be discussed as to who would receive them once passed; jewelry on the other had was one of the first. After every visit, Mona would return with handfuls of pieces that were to be refurbished, redesigned or resized and given to loved ones upon her departure from us. On each piece that we work on I get to learn more about Grace - the story behind each piece Mona is now wearing or learning about her little nieces that are so lucky to be receiving gold bangles and rings with an engraved message from Auntie Grace. Clothes will wear, dinnerware will eventually be put away, money will disappear but jewelry really does last forever.

In the happier circle of life my very best friend has recently been married. As a wedding gift I had designed a gold ring surrounded by her wedding date cut out in roman numerals. I liked the design and as a jewelry designer I had greater access to give her something special; but I didn't realize how special this gift could potentially be. I had overheard the wedding photographer ask Breanne if she was wearing any pieces of significance (something borrowed, something blue or a family heirloom) that she would like to be photographed and she immediately took off the ring that I had given her that morning and passed it to the photographer. I was so touched; but it made me think of Grace.

Over the months events I realized out of all items of inheritance, jewelry is one of the only items that can be passed on from generation to generation in much of the same condition as it was originally purchased. Jewelry signifies life's celebrations and turns of events. It represents a story and a moment and that's something to be cherished forever.