KINGSLEY FIELD FIRE

Regional jewelry could be considered an opposite to generic, mass-produced jewelry. That is, it incorporates elements which may be termed local, tribal, ethnic or even pre-industrial. These local elements are either materials or designs or both. For example, a jade buddha necklace utilizes a material which is commonly associated with the Orient (jade) and religious iconography which similarly relates to the Orient.

We should, of course, refer to regional jewelries – plural rather than singular – as there is a multitude of regional jewelry throughout geographical and historical. With regards to geography we have jewelry which is regional at the continental level, at the national level, at an ethnic or religious level and at a clan – or tribal – level. And with regards to history, regional jewelry is most commonly identified with pre-industrialization. With mass-media and globalization, the industrialised world has seemingly reached a consensus about what constitutes “High Street” jewelry.

While high-street jewelry may use tribal motifs and elements, it is necessarily post-regional. That is to say, that it is mostly areas that are relatively untouched by globalization which still produce regional jewelry. By its nature, regional jewelry is often made with different – and more diverse – materials than modern jewelry given the simplicity of pre-industrial technology. As such, we find regional jewelry made of materials which are not exclusively made of valuable materials – for example, gold and diamond – but rather readily available materials such as shell, bone, wood etc.

Of course, such materials indicate the earliest examples of jewelry. Gemstones, which require more sophisticated technology to produce, have been used in regional jewelry: in the case of the Chinese, alluded to (above) with their use of jade; the ancient Egyptians with their use of lapis; Aztecs and turquoise; Romans and carnelian. Today regional jewelry – as with regional culture – has a struggle to survive in an age of mass-media and globalization. As tools and technologies become homogenous we may reasonably expect an increasing uniformity of accoutrement and culture.

Regardless of whether you are shopping for jewelry to go with a specific outfit or something that will provide maximum return on your investment and will coordinate with your entire wardrobe, choosing the perfect piece can be tricky. With such individual properties and striking colors, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds all make wonderful choices, but just how do you go about ensuring that you get the best match for maximum ‘wearability’? Here are a few simple tips to bear in mind.

Step 1 – Do a Closet Inventory

If you are not sure what kind of gemstones would best suit your wardrobe, do a quick closet inventory to see what you already own, paying careful attention to the overall style of the clothes. Is your closet full of smart business suits, for example, or does your look lean more towards the casual? Once you understand your personal style, it will be much easier to select the right jewelry to go with your everyday wear or with a specific item of clothing or outfit.

Step 2 – Pay Attention to Colors and Patterns

When you open up your closet, take note of the colors that you tend to gravitate towards and whether you normally choose plain or patterned clothing. For those who have a penchant for pattern, simply-styled and classic pieces of jewelry are generally the best choice as these will not compete for attention. Plain, solid colors, meanwhile, allow for more intricate designs and your color preference will help you to decide on which gemstones might be most appropriate. If black or white are your staple colors, then you will have the widest choice of jewelry, because almost any gemstone will work well in terms of providing an accent color.

Step 3 – Consider the Colors of Gemstones

Even particular types of gemstones come in a whole range of different colors, so if you are looking to match the shade of an item of clothing or outfit exactly, it is important not to think too narrowly about the possibilities. While some sapphires might, for example, be deep blue in color, others can be found in a whole spectrum of blues, right down to the palest shade of turquoise. Some sapphires are even yellow or pink. Emeralds offer a broad palate of greens, from light olive or yellowish-green to the richest grass green, and the ruby, which is essentially a red sapphire, can be found in anything from the deepest blood red to shades of pink or mauve. Being, in most cases, colorless, diamonds represent one of the most versatile choices because they will, of course, go with anything. Sometimes though, rather than trying to find an exact color match for a piece of clothing, it is better to choose a gemstone in a complimentary shade so that the piece of jewelry stands out better.

Step 4 – Think About Settings

Another important consideration when buying jewelry to match your wardrobe is the setting. A ruby, diamond, sapphire or emerald which is set in yellow gold will look very different to one which is set in white gold or platinum, and may not work as well with your choice of clothing. Elaborate and intricate settings, meanwhile, tend to go better with solid colors, while simpler designs work well with patterns.

Matching jewelry with clothing is not difficult to do, but it does require that you pay attention to your personal style, as well as to decide whether you wish your clothing or your jewelry to make the stronger statement.