The Celebrity Influence

The power of a celebrity upon trends can’t be denied. Every time an influential artist or an athlete gets engaged and pictures of her ring are splayed across the internet, jewelers brace themselves for the calls they will receive from people wanting the same for themselves. Recently, Selena Gomez was presented with a marquise diamond, and Taylor Swift with a cushion cut. So, guess what I brought in for customers to see for themselves? You guessed it, big marquise and antique cut stones. Taylor’s influence is so powerful; in fact, she has driven up the price on European cuts and Old Miners. They’re hard to find, and scarcity adds to value. Zendaya’s ring was also an antique cushion cut, but it was set with east/west orientation in a Georgian-style setting. Immediately after that, Georgian-style pendants and ring settings were flooding my designer’s new offerings. What’s old is new again!

The east/west setting style has been the most popular request recently. This looks particularly stylish in half bezel settings around a marquise, oval, or radiant cut. It adds a touch of originality, and it’s very wearable. It looks excellent on a middle finger or pointer finger, which tends to be a lady’s largest finger. This setting is also a great choice for a pendant, permanently affixed to a dainty chain. The bigger the better!

Crosses have been in huge demand lately. This can be traced back to the Charlie Kirk assassination. I began to see everyone wearing a beautiful cross on television and immediately stocked up in silver and gold crosses with and without diamonds. We sell one nearly every day. Some people want big, some people want tiny. I have a nice selection to choose from at all times. If you want bling with a religious theme, the lab diamond crosses and gorgeous Star of David’s offer the brilliant look on a budget.

Marco Island has a nice mixture of clientele. Some buyers want unusual and others are very much on the traditional side. During season, our customers’ taste in jewelry is so diverse, namely because there are folks here from all corners of the globe. Even nationwide, I find this is also true. What is popular in Maine or Massachusetts or Wisconsin usually doesn’t fly here in SWFL (a gold manatee pendant, for example, is not exactly in demand in the Northeast).

When I am selecting merchandise, I always keep that in mind. My wonderfully diverse clientele keeps me on my creative toes! Having my Dad’s European jewelry connections is still a big help for our discerning clients who want the cutting-edge European look that is generated every year from top designers in Milan or Florence, Italy; Paris, France; Barcelona, Spain; even Pforzheim, Germany.

I have discovered tons of domestic designers and manufacturers here in the States. Many we have carried many for decades and so many new sources from New York to Los Angeles. Our gorgeous mint green and watermelon pink tourmaline pieces come out of mines from the great state of Maine. Our main supplier of superb Indian rubies and sapphires has been buying directly from the mine to the cutters, saving us and our clients hundreds, even thousands, on important gems. Our Brazilian supplier Sergio also supplies us with our Caribbean Aquamarines in all shapes and carat sizes; we also carry the coveted and slightly more expensive “Santa Maria” aqua. The color of this rare blue, aqua is a sight to behold! My father is particularly fond of these gemstones. The color is a deeper, less transparent shade of blue. I hand-selected three gorgeous gems for a stunning three-stone ring with a big look in white gold. After featuring one of my aquamarine designs in a previous article, a keen-eyed lady snatched it up two days later!

Our selection is always evolving is the point I am trying to get across. The most exquisite and unique pieces tend to move quickly. I always encourage people to buy it when they find something they love. Fluctuating gold prices mean that it may cost more when I reorder, if I can even get it again. That’s why it’s a good habit to pop into the store for a free cleaning and inspection regularly so you can see our recent offerings. It’s always changing!

As always, thank you, Marco Island, for your loyalty and trust. Valentine’s Day is a special holiday and hearing how happy you or your sweetheart is with their gift puts a smile on our face.