This year Tiffany's celebrates the 50th anniversary of Capote's novella which distinguished the jewellery brand across the globe. But fifty years on in a world where diamonte is the new diamond is there still room for a little blue box in our lives? As the credit crunch blocks your way to Cartier you have no choice but to look for viable alternatives and costume jewellery is fast becoming one of them. Dating back to the 1700's costume jewellery has been a part of fashion culture for more than 300 years, providing an inexpensive substitute to fine jewellery through the use of materials such as simulated gem stones and plated brass. Greatly popularized by Coco Chanel, her collections often featured faux jewellery; she helped to reinvent its purpose as an investment to a fashion accessory.
Replacing gold with gold plated and pearl with pearl effect beads the crime of going 'fake' has never been more accepted, and for what costume jewellery lacks in precious materials, it makes up for in design. Most notably it is designer Kenneth Jay Lane who, since the 1960's been creating unique piece for the likes of Audrey Hepburn, that has led the way in breaking free from the conventional restrictions when it comes to jewellery design. Leaving chandelier earrings behind in favor of proportion defying necklaces and turquoise embellished cuffs. But possibly more excitingly is the wide range of costume jewellery available on the high street. Affordable, stylish and attention grabbing pieces, from Accessorize's cocktail rings to Urban Outfitters kitsch pendant necklaces, jewellery has become a statement of individuality.
And in this quest to find pieces that are unique, it is individual online boutiques that offer one of a kind and limited designs. Up and coming jewellery designers, often students from the likes of Parsons school of design and Central Saint Martins are swapping mass production for hand made and individually sourced jewellery and selling it online. Offering jewellery connoisseurs a chance to not only buy a one of a kind piece but to invest in the future of jewellery design.
