Summer jewelry trends see movement, nature among top inspirations

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Thanks to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, interest in jewelry is going strong. (The hashtag jewelry is linked to more than 6.2 million posts on TikTok alone.)

Not that the act of adornment is anything new. Early evidence of jewelry — then largely made with stones in the shapes of amulets and seals — dates back to 3,000 BC.

But, these days, the interest in precious accessories is heightened by the endless stream of online content featuring ultimate ear stacks, extreme arm candy, and do-it-yourself jewelry designs.

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“Over the last year, we have seen an uptick in clients consigning jewelry that they’ve held onto, as well as clients purchasing jewelry for everyday moments,” Randa Salloum, a Vancouver-based style expert and owner of the second-hand and emerging brands boutique Collective Will, says.

A major allure to adding fine and demi-fine accessories to one’s closet has to do with sustainability, Salloum says.

“For our clients, the driving factor for purchasing more jewelry is coming from a need to change up an outfit, without buying more clothes,” she explains.

With the increased interest comes a corresponding pressure on brands to stand out among the collective jewelry congestion.

Fitting in with the maximalism of pop culture and fashion trends in the 2000s, Danish jewelry brand Pandora launched its perennially popular charm bracelets that offer shoppers the opportunity to collect personalized charms to wear as customized jewelry designs.

With charms pegged among the top jewelry trends for 2024 by insiders, it would make sense for the ‘world’s largest jewelry brand’ to lean in to the strength of its charming designs.

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But, instead, the company is taking a decidedly different approach with its newest release, Pandora Essence.

“Pandora is expanding to appeal to more women and amplifying the concept of self-expression,” says Luciana Marsicano, vice-president and managing director of Canada.

The 50-piece collection features designs such as earrings, rings and cuff bracelets inspired by the fluidity of nature. With ‘organic contours and structural shapes,’ the jewelry is crafted from 14-karat gold plating over a metal blend or sterling silver.

According to Salloum, that point of inspiration is proving especially popular with shoppers.

“We’ve seen clients who traditionally only wear gold, look to add silver to their rotation. Mixed metals have been quite popular with younger clients,” Salloum explains. “There are no more rules! The most popular styles have been ‘everyday with a twist,’ such as a sterling silver hoop, but it’s an organic ‘melted’ shape.”

The Nordic-inspired, minimalist-chic collection, which has a decidedly fine-jewelry feel, is an “integral part of the strategy to reinforce Pandora as a full jewelry house,” according to Marsicano.

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“The collection will speak to the Pandora fan, but will also attract new clients looking for more styling possibilities and bold looks,” Marsicano says. An evolution of the company’s jewelry offering — much like the brand’s launch into lab-grown diamonds in 2022 for which B.C.’s own Pamela Anderson is a spokesperson — Essence is about strengthening Pandora’s overall product range rather than signalling a departure from the tried-and-true favourites such as its recognizable Pandora Moments charm pieces.

The Essence collection has three design directions, according to Luciano Rodembusch, president, North America for Pandora: organic shapes, pearls and essentials.

“We looked at how to use the collection as a way to connect, as well as represent the idea of freedom,” Rodembusch says. “With the inspiration of natural forms and fluid lines, nature was an important inspiration. Yet we wanted to take this in a more specific direction that touches upon Pandora’s DNA.

“Organic design is a very specific esthetic in the history of design, including Nordic design, and this collection is inherently organic in its look — from sleek to bold. This made us reflect on our own origins and who we are, as a brand, to create a collection that reflects the very essence of all these parts.”

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Cultured pearls in organic, imperfect shapes are front and centre in the new release. It’s an aspect of the Essence collection that Marsicano expects will prove especially fitting for Canadian jewelry consumers.

“Canadians love pearls,” Marsicano says. “They are feminine, romantic, timeless, but with the spin of modernity we see in Pandora Essence, they will be worn day and night, at any occasion.”

Marsicano points to the pearl earrings in the range, along with the more-is-more appeal of the mix-and-match metal designs as unique standouts.

“The bold look of our new rings and the ‘stack-ability’ potential to create a unique look will also be a winner,” Marsicano says.

Aharris@postmedia.com

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