Your Guide to the Top Jewellery Trends for 2012

Author: Alexandra
Jewellery is an integral part of fashion, and as designers in the fashion world are constantly hard at work to create new styles, trends change with every season.
With the ancient African and Indian peoples being arguably the first cultures to take jewellery to an artistic level, there is a rich wealth of jewellery design throughout the ages to inspire new creations.

In addition, with the advent of TV and the Internet giving rise to affordable direct retailers such as The Jewellery Channel, we all have the ability (no matter what the budget) to get our hands on some stunning pieces to make us feel special.
The following guide will look at the hottest trends in jewellery for 2012 to help you make the right choice when shopping around.
Latest Jewellery Styles
Brightly Coloured
While brightly coloured jewellery has always had its place in fashion the world over - from glistening gold and silver to imitation pieces – the cat walks this season are generally looking colourful, but not overbearingly so.
Classic & Antique
This style of jewellery will never go out of vogue, and 2012 is no exception. Not only does classic jewellery add elegance to every outfit, antique designs are unique so highly exclusive.
Crosses
In many circles, crosses seem to be prominent on the fashion radar this year. Available in a wide range of forms, sizes and colours, you will have a large selection to choose from.
Floral
Light-weight jewellery with floral patterns in gold and diamonds are rather fashionable at the moment, although if your personality enjoy a stronger look when it comes to jewellery, this type of delicate design will not be your bag.
Handmade
Handmade jewellery has made a healthy revival among the top trends for 2012. It reflects a uniquely elegant look, plus it has the added value of each piece being endowed with the patience and dedication that comes with making creations by hand. Both gold and silver when intricately hand crafted have an extra special beauty and exclusivity.
Large and Chunky
Huge and dramatic ornaments are also a big part of fashion this year - opulently embellished pieces of jewellery that boast a strong style and air of drama can make a stunning impression when mixed with a more subdued outfit. Massive metal jewellery designs are especially in vogue.
Platinum
Platinum has seen significant growth in popularity over recent years, and 2012 is no exception.
Fashionable Gemstones for Jewellery
Amber
In its natural form, amber is actually tree resin which has hardened over thousands of years. What makes it so interesting is that the average age of an amber stone is about one million years. This year amber jewellery is definitely a hot trend.
Amethyst
Always sought after in jewellery, this gorgeous gemstone which is popular in the deep purple variety is once again prominent in current fashion tastes.
Diamond
Another undying favourite, diamonds are never out of favour. This year there are some stunning yet lightweight diamond jewellery creations available which mean you don't need to be a millionaire to own a fashionable piece.
Emerald
The deep green colour and brilliance of emeralds has always added a Royal presence to jewellery. With the right direct retailer, there are some gorgeous pieces to be had that will suit most every budget.
Jade
Green is the most sought after colour for jade - this gemstone has been especially prized by the Chinese for thousands of years, where it is thought to represent heavenly qualities. Do try to get your hands on some jade jewellery this year as it is certainly in vogue.
Pearls
Pearls are popular in 2012, they never fail to give an air of elegance and glamour to any outfit, whether in necklaces, pendants, earrings, anklets or brooches.
Quartz
This crystalline gemstone comes in a variety of colours, with smoky brown, pink and transparent being the most popular. Not only is Quartz totally in trend this year, it is highly affordable.
Ruby
A touch of fire-red ruby in jewellery adds undeniable opulence to any creation. This year there is a wide range of designs available to choose from.
Sapphire
Always a classic, sapphires cannot fail to appeal – these superb blue gemstones are a must-have, whether set in a ring, pendant or earrings.
Turquoise
The gorgeous light blue of a turquoise gemstone is always refreshing to the eye – jewellery creations using turquoise are making a big appearance on the cat walks in 2012.
Conclusion
The above guide gives you a tidy overview of the most sought after jewellery styles and gemstones this year. As mentioned in the introduction, by using a direct online retailer such as The Jewellery Channel, owning some of the creations that are causing a stir in 2012 will be much more affordable that you might think.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/your-guide-to-the-top-jewellery-trends-for-2012-5934939.html
About the Author
Julia Littlewood is a stylist and enthusiast of The Jewellery Channel.