The rise of treat-yourself jewellery
FORGET waiting for a birthday or anniversary to get that something sparkly you’ve been dropping hints about — join the increasing number of women who are treating themselves instead.
The new buzz words in the industry are ‘self-purchasing woman’ and ‘just-because purchases’, according to the website Business of Fashion, while experts say that more than half of women are regularly buying themselves jewellery.
Katie Mullally, who makes charms, necklaces and rings in silver and gold (starting at £60), says women are looking for the sort of quality and hand-finishing that massproduced jewellery lacks. (Try the dragonfly pendant, right, £150, katiemullally.co.uk). ‘Our clients are happy to pay more for a piece they will wear every day for years, not just a season,’ says Katie.
‘They also want something that will increase in value, which is why every piece we make bears the Assay Office hallmark so it can be dated and valued.’
The High Street is keen to cash in on the trend, with retailers from Boden to Zara revamping their collections. So too are jewellery boutiques — another popular destination for ‘ just- because purchases’ (bracelets and rings right, dinnyhall.com and monicavinader.com).