In the modern world, jewelry is no longerassociated with family jewels, which are worn on major holidays and passed on by inheritance. For the current generation of active and independent women, they are everyday accessories that reflect individuality and emphasize style. From this point of view, it becomes important every time to select jewelry for a specific color scheme, occasion and mood.
But, as in ancient times, naturalprecious metals and stones continue to be expensive. Therefore, buying a lot of gold jewelry, which would correspond to different clothes, can be too expensive. But allows you to harmoniously complement any style and add variety to the casual look.
What is costume jewelry?
Costume jewelry (from the French word "bijouterie",which translates as “jewel”) can be defined as an ornament made of inexpensive materials. Often, jewelry is an imitation of expensive products made of precious metals and natural gemstones. To do this, use cheaper metals, electroplating gold, silver or rhodium. Gems can be replaced with glass rhinestones, synthetic analogues, semi-precious minerals.
Variety of materials
It is not uncommon and another case when costume jewelryIt is made from materials completely different from traditional jewelery. So, if you classify jewelry on the materials from which it is made, you get a lot of varieties:
- From inexpensive metals (bronze, nickel silver, brass, pewter, nickel silver);
- From colored or transparent glass beads (rhinestones and complex details made using the lampwork technique);
- From polymer clay;
- Epoxy resin;
- From natural semi-precious and non-precious stones;
- From beads and plastic beads;
- From colored cords and threads;
- Leather;
- From fabrics;
- From natural materials (pebbles, wood, seashells, etc.).
Jewelry styles
Artistic styles in costume jewelry, as inart in general, we can distinguish a great many: art deco, modern, glamor, retro, vintage, etc. It should be borne in mind that some products can combine the features of different styles.
Therefore, summarizing, costume jewelry is divided into several large groups:
- Classic.This jewelry is designed to accurately copy jewelry from precious metals and precious stones. To do this, the metal substitute is coated with a thin layer of real gold or silver by electroplating. Inserts made of precious stones are replaced with glass rhinestones, cubic zirconias, artificial pearls or natural zircons. Truly high-quality jewelry can be so difficult to recognize that only a professional jeweler can handle this. Classic jewelry can be attributed as a modest earrings for everyday visit to the office, and a luxurious tiara for a wedding dress.
- Авангардная.These decorations are most often handmade, invented and made by professional designers. Materials in this case can be the most diverse and exotic, and designs - the most daring, because such things are valued just for the unusual look, originality and uniqueness.
- Ethnic.Ethnic jewelry refers to the cultural traditions of different peoples, uses folk motifs and, most often, natural materials: wood, stone, animal fangs, shells, leather and thread items. Ornaments, symbols, magic signs, hieroglyphs and runes - all this gives ethnic costume jewelry color and mystery.
- Children'sThese are usually jewelery made from inexpensive materials, often using popular girlish motifs (butterflies, flowers, hearts), and designed to divert the attention of younger fashionistas from expensive mother's jewels.
Mass and uniqueness
By type of production jewelry can be divided into the following groups.
- flow (implies low-cost materials and mass production, which as a result gives a very affordable price, but not the best quality)
- author's ("hand-made" of very different quality and price category)
- jewelry (produced by jewelry production using the same technologies as products made of precious metals, can combine cheap and expensive materials)
Thus, thanks to jewelry, almostAny woman can find jewelry to your taste and wallet. Dreaming of noble platinum and sparkling diamonds, which are not affordable, you should not forget about today. Feel free to wear jewelry: it's just another great opportunity to make your look brighter and more diverse.
