What’s the difference between fashion and fine jewelry?

If you think of yourself as a person with a strong sense of style, then you probably adhere to certain fashion “rules.” Perhaps you refuse to violate the “no white after Labor Day” dictum, or maybe you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a synthetic fabric, or maybe it would be unthinkable that you would outfit yourself in anything other than a top designer brand. In today’s “anything goes” fashion free-for-all, however, most of those style statutes have gone the way of rotary dial telephones.

The same is true of jewelry, and those who love it. If you are a die-hard gold girl, then it doesn’t matter to you how cute a jewelry design is,, if it isn’t available in 14 karat gold, at the very least, then you don’t even want to look at it. On the other hand, if sterling silver suits you, both in the way of skin tone, lifestyle, and budget, then you bypass gold with a dismissive wave of your shiny silver stack ringed and bangle braceleted hand. But what if you are the type of person who zeroes in on design, who gravitates toward symbolism or sentiment that really speaks to you, regardless of the materials used? Maybe you have a strong preference for a type of metal or material, but are jewelry curious, and wonder if it’s okay to mix fashion and fine jewelry. Does it really matter what a piece of jewelry is made of, so long as it rings your bell? So what if you love that bracelet made of bike chain, or a necklace crafted of cork? Isn’t that considered fashionable? And what of this distinction between fashion and fine jewelry? If it’s fashionable and produced in platinum, or has sentimental value and made from recycled materials, if it’s fine jewelry to you, who really cares, right? What’s the difference between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry?

Actually, there are a few distinctions to be aware of, so in case you are wondering where to draw a line between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry, read on.

Jewelry purists will tell you that fine jewelry can only be crafted of gold or platinum metals, and can only be set with precious gems, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires. In the strictest terms, this definition leaves out sterling silver. However, if one is willing to move the line just a bit, sterling silver is considered to be a noble metal, and can be included in the ‘fine” jewelry category.

What about gold, platinum, or silver plating? These jewelry items would not be considered fine jewelry, even if they are set with precious gemstones. yes, you can easily find jewelry crafted of sterling silver plated with gold or platinum, and set with genuine gems, but these pieces are still not considered fine jewelry. So, you can see where that line is starting to get a little blurry at this point.

Fashion jewelry is a catch-all term that is inclusive of any jewelry that does not fit into the strictest definition of fine jewelry above. A sterling silver ring plated in platinum and set with a ruby is considered to be fashion jewelry. So, then what is costume jewelry? The term “costume jewelry” originated from live theater, where actors needed to appear adorned in finery, yet were actually wearing props made of base metals or glass “gems,” so the costume departments didn’t have to worry about expense, loss, or theft, since the costume pieces were of little or no value. So, the term fashion jewelry is just a more modern way of referring to costume jewelry. Again, however, the line between fine jewelry and fashion jewelry, or what is colloquially called “junk jewelry” is a bit fuzzy. “Junk” connotes trash, garbage, detritus or debris that is disposable, and without value. However, some fashion jewelry can be quite costly, especially if it is labeled with a designer brand name, or is manufactured using complex tooling or techniques, such as metal mesh, or, conversely, jewelry that is entirely hand crafted, such as Bali silver, or native American jewelry. If you purchased any of this type of jewelry, for which you may have spent hundreds of dollars, would you consider it “junk?

To allow for a certain amount of wiggle-room with respect to categorizing jewelry, you may sometimes hear another term used. Semi-fine, or bridge jewelry is a relatively modern way of characterizing jewelry that falls somewhere in between the two most extreme ends of the jewelry spectrum. Jewelry made of copper, which is a metal mined from the earth and found on the Periodic Table of Elements, is often set with semi-precious gemstones, either transparent or opaque, and is an example of jewelry that can be placed firmly in the “bridge,” or semi-fine category. Southwestern jewelry often uses this particular combination of materials, along with sterling silver, and if you have ever traveled to Albuquerque or Santa Fe, and shopped the galleries filled with authentic local artisan jewelry, then you know it can be incredibly expensive.

Nowadays, there is such a wide range of jewelry style that just about anyone can wear what speaks to them. Some fashion jewelry can so closely mimic the real thing that the average person couldn’t tell the difference, even with a trained eye, without the use of jeweler’s tools. in fact, arguably the world’s most renown diamond producer, De Beers, recently shook up the jewelry world by announcing their new lab-grown diamonds, sold by the carat with prices that for some, make that line between fine and fashion jewelry barely discernible. So, whether you consider yourself a designer brand diva, a fashion jewelry fashionista, or if you prefer conflict-free and sustainable style, there’s definitely something out there for everyone’s taste and budget.

Sparkle on!

Laura