2011 Forecast: Gold jewellery trends
4.0 k views | By Lorna Goodyer
Delicate designs, openwork and texture are among the six key gold themes the World Gold Council has picked out following the Vicenza jewellery fair in the heart of Italy’s gold region.
Gold aspiration levels around the world are at their highest, the World Gold Council (WGC) told Vicenza attendees last month as it revealed key themes for the precious metal at its 2011 Gold Expressions exhibition.As the first international trade fair to kick off the new year, Vicenza is widely considered to give a first glimpse of the design story that will play out for the next 12 months.
Following the trade show, the World Gold Council has released what it believes will be the six most influential trends in the worldwide gold jewellery industry this year.
Many of the themes are clearly influenced by a drive to make gold a more cost-effective material, as jewellers continue to struggle with soaring gold prices. At the show, it was clear that intelligent design involves using the precious metal more sparingly in the current environment.
David Lamb, managing director for jewellery at the World Gold Council, said, “Vicenza Fair showcases jewels which simply could not be created anywhere else. It was fascinating to present our Gold Expressions 2011 collection to such an expert audience, and to be inspired by their collections in return. We look forward to seeing the continuing innovation of gold jewellery around the world in 2011.”
D'Orica
World Gold Council: six trends for 2011
Gold – the new jewel
Gold was extensively presented at Vicenza Fair as the ‘jewel’ that elevates a piece to iconic status. The incorporation of gold into primarily wood or ceramic pieces, by designers including Micheletto and Vendorafa, was both eye-catching and utterly modern. A gold chain nestled among silver was shown at SuperOro – bold, bright and raising the bar. Gold presented in this way raises a fashion piece to a higher plane, adding an edge to the extraordinary heritage of gold.
Precious and delicate
The preciousness of gold also found expression at Vicenza Fair in beautiful pieces, as delicate as they are desirable. High carat, slim chains were shown, which were elegant and classic, while Nanis’s ‘Petites’ collection presented tiny gold charms. Precious gold details on pieces sparkled like gems, using diamond-cut techniques to catch the light and the eye.
Openwork and weaving
Expert craftsmanship on show at Vicenza Fair showed how gold electroforming has been taken to a new level. Designers including Tre Spighe and Graziella showed bracelets, necklaces, earrings and rings that demonstrated a level of detail in gold jewellery that previously was only possible to achieve through hand-carving. Delicate, spidery, skeletal structures weaved through designs – pieces that expressed the beauty of the gold via the most intricate of execution.
Daniela Neri
Texture and colour
Hammered, diamond-cut and silk finishes created texture and interest – often combining in one piece with beautiful effect. Yellow, white and rose gold were combined by designers including Damiani, for opulent pieces; ranging from the young and fun to the rich and classic.
Shapes of the season
Gold hearts, pebbles, stars, seashells and flowers peppered pieces by Il Giglio, Sade and others. The Gold Expressions 2011 ‘Opulent Organics’ theme found further expression throughout the industry at Vicenza Fair. Smaller details were complemented with bolder shapes – with coils being a recurring theme throughout many collections.
Personal expression
Expert gold craftsmanship found expression in increasingly versatile pieces, such as reversible designs; pieces that work with or without attachments to add interest to length or width. Customisable gold, by designers including Neri Romualdo, Chimento and Mattioli, offered versatility, modernity and the power of personal expression.
Posted February 03, 2011