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Jewelry 2016: This Time, It's Personal

Remember that birthstone pendant your grandma gave you ages ago? The one that's been lying, buried and unworn, at the bottom of your jewelry box? Dig it out, because now is its time to shine!
    With recent trends branching out and incorporating elements of the exotic, bohemian and multicultural, the accessories of 2016 seek to anchor our styles with a more personal approach. This means that personalized jewelry is making a big comeback in the coming seasons. This trend highlights pieces that have special meaning to the wearer, whether she is using them to commemorate her birth month, her hometown or her family name.
    So, let's get personal

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It's Your Birthday: Birthstones
A favorite of mothers and gift-giving aunts, the tradition of birthstones extends way back to biblical times.
    A Quick History of Birthstone Jewelry: Before slick jewelry marketing campaigns made them the staple they are today, the idea of birthstones had its roots in the book of Exodus, in which Moses' brother Aaron owned a breastplate set with twelve gems representing the tribes of Israel. While modern scholars disagree on the true identities of these gemstones, mining technology and limited mobility at the time would have excluded many of the beloved birthstones that we know today, replacing them with gems such as lapis lazuli, agate or onyx. The first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote of connections between the twelve months of the year, the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve stones of the breastplate. Centuries later, St. Jerome took Josephus' idea and ran with it. However, he replaced the twelve gems in the breastplate with twelve gems referenced in the book of Revelation -- the foundation stones of New Jerusalem -- with the belief that these would be more appropriate for Christian use. By the 8th and 9th centuries, religious papers had associated each of these gems with one of the apostles, and it became a fashionable practice to keep the twelve gems and wear one for each month.
    The more modern practice of wearing just one gem to symbolize the month of birth didn't come until much later -- GIA says it began in Germany in the 1560s, while American mineralogist George Kunz places its emergence in 18th century Poland. Until an official list was adopted in 1912, birthstones varied according to cultural trends. The official list, mostly reflecting Polish tradition, was adopted by the American National Association of Jewelers during their 1912 meeting in Kansas. It has since been amended to add popular or newly-discovered gems (such as tanzanite), but has mostly remained the same over the past century.
    Today, birthstone jewelry remains a popular gift for girls of all ages. Beyond wearing her own birthstone, a woman might choose a ring or pendant containing the birthstones of her children or grandchildren.
    Keep your birthstone jewelry up-to-date with gems set in negative space designs, stackable rings, or rough-cut pendants -- just to name a few.
    [LINK]Birthstones By Month (And Their Meanings)

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It's Your Birthday: Zodiac Jewelry
Gemstones aren't the only way to celebrate your birth through your jewelry. Lovers of daily horoscope columns rejoice, for the signs of the zodiac have been making appearances on fashion runways and in designer collections.
    Wear your astrological sign, your constellation, or even your Chinese zodiac sign.
    [LINK]Diamond Zodiac Jewelry Obsession

With so many ways to celebrate, it's like it's your birthday all year 'round!

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On The Map
Maybe it's the town where you were born, or the hometown you chose for yourself later in life. Perhaps it's your favorite vacation destination. Or maybe it's where you met the love of your life. If you can place it on a map, you can wear it in your jewelry.
    In the United States, this trend has manifested in the form of home state jewelry. Pendants in the shape of the state, with the city often marked by a gem or a heart, have become a trendy way for a woman to remember where she came from.
    In some jewelry, cutout pieces of actual maps are used to highlight a particular destination. This style is perfect for those with a more boho aesthetic who love that mixed-media look. It even makes a fun DIY project for the more crafty among us.
    For a more local view, street map designs are creating beautiful etched jewelry pieces. Pendants or cuff bracelets give a closer view of your favorite city or neighborhood. Step up the glam factor by marking a location with a sparkling diamond. Don't mind if we do!
    Some places remain in your heart no matter where life takes you -- now you can get the jewelry to prove it!
    [LINK]14 DIYs Using Maps

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It's Got Your Name On It
Monograms have always been a bit of a status symbol. The noble and wealthy have monogrammed stationery, handkerchiefs, towels and jewelry for many generations. Even Ann Boleyn famously wore her own last initial, a large B pendant made from gold and pearls. After all, building a name is a lot like building a brand, and every brand needs a logo.
    Now that personalized jewelry has become accessible to the masses, monograms are no longer the exclusive territory of the rich and famous -- but they still look impressive. A traditional 3-initial monogram displays the last initial (largest and often more stylized) in the center, flanked on the left by the first initial and on the right by the middle initial (or first letter of maiden name) From feminine scripts to bold, blocky lettering, it's easy to match a monogram to your unique style.
    If the traditional monogram isn't your style, a pendant or charm with your first initial is a simpler alternative that's just as stylish. And if initials don't spell it out to your liking, try a personalized piece with your first name.
    [LINK]Trend Finder: Monograms

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There are a million ways to make your jewelry your own. All of them are fabulous!