In the U.S., the jewelry market has recorded a compounded growth rate of 5.7% in the last 25 years. In 2006, it grew even faster, and showed incremental sales of 7.1% over the previous year. Electronics, furniture and clothing along with travel and restaurants have accounted for the bulk of discretionary spending by consumers; jewelry is now believed to compete with these categories.

The kind of momentum shown by the jewelry sector, in the recent past, matches that of major categories in non-food retail. Bridal related and seasonal gift giving events account for the bulk of jewelry buys, and this is cited as the reason why jewelry vies with non-food retail categories in sales.

Wendy Mink Jewelry has been among the beneficiaries of this spending trend, having started out in 1988.

Wendy the founder of Wendy Mink Jewelry had a stint with World Bank. During this period, she traveled extensively in South East Asia. In the course of her travels, she encountered artisans of the region and was dazzled by the craftsmanship and beauty of the textiles and jewelry made by women of the region. This is said to have acted as inspiration for Wendy to start her own jewelry company in New York.

Wendy's background as a painter is cited as an inspiration for the designs of Wendy Mink Jewelry, but the artisanship of the Tibetan women employed by the company at New York must be given due credit, too.

Eastern and Western design aspects are married to produce the company's signature pieces. That, combined with the constantly changing array of styles, must account for the brand's wide popularity across continents.

Sterling, 22K gold vermeil and semi-precious stones are among the high quality materials used to create visually striking designs. The company has recently added jewelry composed out of 22K gold pieces. About 30 varieties of bangles and more than 50 varieties of earrings, and necklaces feature in the range of jewelry manufactured and marketed by the company.

All in all, the brand's popularity is compelling evidence of its undoubted quality.