Tuesday, January 13, 2009

TREND REPORT January 2009


Fine Jewelry Trends Spring 2009 translated to Faux Fine Jewelry by Sophie Miller

Christmas for jewelry was difficult, fine jewelry sales were soft. Gold skyrocketed; moderately priced fine jewelry was a tough sell.

These conditions remain as 2009 begins. There are highlights however, where business remains strong. And identifying these trends and then adding them to your collection in Faux Fine Jewelry will add newness and a fresh face to your jewelry wardrobe.

Faux Fine Jewelry, you ask? Sophie Miller designs her line from the perspective of a fine jewelry designer. She has several wealthy clients that buy her jewelry and mix it with their own expensive fine jewelry wardrobe anchors, and no one ever knows the difference. This is jewelry that follows the Fine Jewelry trends and blends in with the real thing.

Trend # 1, Colored Diamonds

Canary Diamonds

One of the areas of strength as we enter 2009 is the growth in high end expensive natural colored and cultured diamond pieces. With canary diamonds leading the trend, more and more high-end fine jewelry stores are selling natural Canary diamonds for 4, 5 and 6 figures. Cultured diamonds are on the scene and canary is their best color. Cultured diamonds have the same chemical, physical, and optical qualities of the real stone, but they are grown by man. Although they are a fraction of the price of natural Canary diamonds, which are quite rare, they are still in the 4 to 5 figure price range.

Sophie has taken the look of Canary diamonds and translated it to silver using white and canary CZ. With an eye to detail, her Faux Fine Jewelry is a cut above other jewelry in this category. This earring is designed in a flower petal design with a stunning canary CZ center.

Emerging Diamond colors-Champagne

With the success of sales in Canary diamonds, natural Champagne diamonds are an emerging trend. Only available in natural color, not available yet in cultured, these are very rare and very expensive. High end jewelers are finding celebrities and their wealthiest customers interested in this rare color. Sales are growing as fast as rough can be found and cut.

Sophie has a Faux Fine Jewelry alternative using silver, white CZ and champagne CZ. This stunning 100 faceted center Champagne cz “faux” diamond has all of the elements of a fine Couture ring, with a large center stone, and small diamonds on the band of the ring. Totally stunning, again, this can be mixed with your real jewelry for a major fashion statement at a fraction of the cost.

Continuing color story of Black and White Diamonds

Much more affordable than the natural and cultured diamonds listed above, and very wearable in our every day lives, black and white diamonds continue to be an important Fine Jewelry story. From a re-emergence of Art Deco Style, in black and white, to a more contemporary styling, black and white diamonds are perfect for every day wear. Celebrities love to wear this color combination at premieres and award shows. The black and white trend in diamonds has now expanded to making onyx fine jewelry very hot, and black enamel a fabulous alternative for a bold style.

Remember, by buying Sophie Millers’ Faux Fine Jewelry, you are not involved with conflict diamonds, which have received a great deal of negative publicity lately. Conflict diamonds destabilize governments in Africa, use child labor, and create revenue to promote terrorism around the world.

Fine Jewelry Trend #2

Emerging Colored stone- Morganite

Morganite is a pale pink stone; most often mined in Brazil, and is a relative to emerald (Beryl) in a sensational pink color. High end jewelers are seeing an increase in interest in this fascinating feminine pink stone. You can expect to see this beauty on the red carpet at the upcoming Golden Globes and Academy Awards presentations.

Sophie has translated this emerging trend to Faux Fine Jewelry using silver jewelry with white and pink CZ. You get the same feminine pink color as the Morganite at a fraction of the price. \

Fine Jewelry Trend # 3, Beginning shift in Metal colors.

Emerging trends- Yellow gold and black rhodium

With gold prices soaring, yellow gold is making a comeback. Platinum is now out of reach for most consumers, palladium is gaining on white gold sales. Expect to see yellow gold becoming a more important metal color as the year progresses.

Black rhodium or hemitite plating are also prepeak and taking on greater significance. This trend started with high end California designers and their gothic jewelry, but has now taken on a life of its own. Expect to see more Celebrity jewelry accenting white diamonds with black rhodium for a fresh look in jewelry.

Sophie is using more gold plate over her silver jewelry as it gives a fresh look to old classics. You can also find some black rhodium accents on her jewelry and will see more in her line in 2009.

Fine Jewelry Trend #4-Texture

Matte finishes

Big bold jewelry with larger metal surfaces, done in texture has become a new high end designer look. This is a trend sometimes with diamond accents, and sometimes with the addition of opaque stones, such as turquoise. This trend adds newness and a contemporary feel to everyday jewelry.


Sophie Miller Faux Fine jewelry has translated this trend into new bold rings using faux turquoise, and also into stunning classic styles updated with the texture.

Fine Jewelry Trend #5- Silhouettes

The return of the hoop earring.

Hoops are back in Fine Jewelry and coming on as a strong trend for 2009. Large and small, with Micro pave small diamonds or single row, in black and white, or all white, inside outside hoops, double hoops, concentric circles, forward facing hoops, all are important as 2009 begins. Celebrities will choose the larger hoop styles, in canary, black or white diamonds, but fine jewelers are translating this to more saleable price points in medium sizes.

Sophie has designed a series of hoops that will start being available in February. Right now you can choose from her Micro Pave hoops with almost 700 hand set cz’s , her mixed shapes hoop, using marquise, rounds and emerald cuts in an inside outside style, or her art Deco forward facing style in cz and black enamel. This trend is prepeak, and will become increasingly important as the year progresses. Check back at www.sophiemiller.com for a large selection to choose from.

Long Linier drop earrings continue to be prominent

Again, a trend you will see on red carpet this spring, the Chandelier and linier earring continue to be important and are here to stay. Famous jewelry houses from 5th Ave and Madison Ave in NY will bring out their stunning examples of this trend to dress the stars.

In addition to Chandelier earrings at the Globes this year, was the influence of antique earrings. Sophie has some lovely earrings influenced by days gone by, right on todays trend.


The Dingle Ring

It all started with a few exclusive pieces at Bergdorfs and Niemans, and these rings were so whimsical, and fun to wear, they are starting to take on a life of their own.

Nothing is more fun to wear in Fine Jewelry than a ring with movement.

Sophie Miller has taken this fine jewelry trend and translated it to Faux. Using oversized colored cz in bezel frames, and adding a gold plated cross with a cz center, this dingle ring with amuse and delight you….and gain you complements galore.

Fine Jewelry trend # 6

Stone Cuts- Raw Diamonds and the rose cut

Raw Rough incorporated into Fine Jewelry

Available through Neiman Marcus and Bergdorfs, this is a new idea that has taken hold and is being worn by the rich and famous. Rough diamonds, in their natural form, incorporated into designer fine jewelry.

For Faux Fine jewelry, Sophie has taken the concept and used checkerboard cuts for a similar look. Available in canary, champagne or white diamonds, these fabulous little

wonders have the “feel” of the trend at a fraction of the cost.



Rose Cut Diamonds

Rose cuts are a cut that dates back to the 16th century and it was the most popular stone cut until the emergence of the brilliant cut at the turn of the 20th century. High end Indian diamond cutters have brought this cut back. Now more uniform than it was in its earlier form, this stunning cut comes to a slight point in the center, and catches the light from all angles.

Sophie has translated this stone cut into Faux Fine Jewelry using a fabulous cushion shape, and uses canary, white or champagne CZ as her rose cut centers. This style is available in a ring, pendant and in earrings.

She also has her fabulous fancy gallery stud with faux diamond rose cut centers available in either white or black.

Whatever the hottest trends are in Fine Jewelry, Sophie has it covered in Faux. Remember to stop by her site often for Affordable Faux Fine Jewelry at a fraction of the price. Sophie Miller makes “Faux Fine Jewelry So Beautiful, It Fools the Eye.”

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