Jewelry designers are artists whose medium is precious metals, stones, and other unique items combined to create a work of art known as a piece of jewelry. Jewelry designer artisans work with different mediums to create works of art that are worn and enjoyed by men and women around the world.

Jewelry designers can design a single unique piece of jewelry or can design jewelry that will serve as the model for mass produced jewelry. Jewelry designers are artist and it is therefore not mandatory that a designer attend a school to become a designer. Being an artist a jewelry designer is only limited by their own passion and imagination.

If you are interested in becoming a jewelry designer there are many schools across the country in which you could study. Here is a list of some of the jewelry schools available:

• Cranbrook Academy of Art: Bloomfield Hills, MI
• Arrowmont School of Arts: Gatlinburg, TN
• American Jewelers Institute: Portland, OR
• Bedazzled: Washington, DC
• Diablo Glass and Metal: Boston, MA
• Denver Jewelry Academy: Westminster, CO
• Gemological Institute of America: Pasadena, CA
• Fashion Institute of Technology: NY, NY
• Fredricka Kulicke School of Jewelry Art: Parsippany, NJ
• Houston Center of Contemporary Craft: Houston, TX
• Metalwerx: MA
• New Approach School for Jewelers: hands on training for stone setting and working with metal, including platinum.
• Valentine Yotkov Studio: Brooklyn, NY
• Several Universities have jewelry programs. Including Temple, Univ. of Kansas, Univ. of North Dakota and the list goes on.

This is just a small sampling of the many schools offering courses in jewelry design. There are other avenues you can take to become a jewelry designer. One of the most common practices is to apprentice under an establish artisan. This approach is very popular but can be hard to find a mentor. Jewelry design is very competitive and the apprentice spots available are few and far between.

This approach allows you to learn from someone who is an established artist. It gives you the opportunity to earn while you learn. This can be important for young struggling artist.

Some of the top jewelry designers are:

• Harry Winston: if you watched the stars stroll the red carpet, you gazed on many Harry Winston designed jewelry. Harry is known as the “Jeweler to the Stars”. Hollywood stars love his designer jewelry.
• Cartier: recognized around the world for designing stunning watches and jewelry. This French design house has tremendous influence on world jewelry fashion. Check out the Cartier collection for inspiration and to see what is currently in style.
• Scott Kay: best known for his bridal collection designs. Chances are you see Scott Kay wedding jewelry everyday on the hands of your friends and co-workers.
• Tiffany: fantastic collection that comes from many talented designers. Always on the cutting edge of jewelry design.
• Hidalgo: one of the most prolific jewelry designers in the world. Offers a wide range of very unique jewelry.

This is just a miniscule sampling of some of the world’s great jewelry designers. The range in style and materials used varies wildly. Each of these great jewelry designers’ collections is available at multiple retailers across the world. You can also browse pictures of the collections over the Internet.

Jewelry design is a wonderful, challenging, and very rewarding profession. If you love fashion, art, and love to tinker and make your own jewelry you should think about becoming a jewelry designer.

Fashion jewelry, also known as costume jewelry, are accessories usually designed with specific clothing and styles in mind, used to enhance the appearance of any outfit.

There is a misconception by many that the accessory is the jewelry itself. Fashion jewelry accessories can be many things:

• Polishing cloths
• Nylon Ear wire Retainers: these nylon retainers help keep French ear wire earrings from coming off the ear.
• Necklace chains: these come in a variety of metals and lengths. Chains can be costume cut and made to fit anyone. Chains are one of most common used accessories in fashion jewelry.
• Necklace chain extenders: outgrown your favorite chain, extend it. Now you can continue to use your favorite chain accessory.
• Pearl shorteners: essentially this accessory can double up your string of pearls and make them a choker or bracelet. Nice accessory.
• Simple bar pin: wear your pendant as a brooch.
• Jewelry boxes: this accessory can come in a variety of styles and made with many different types of materials. The jewelry box accessory is a very personal thing for most women. Many jewelry boxes have been handed down from generation to generation. Some of the different types of jewelry boxes are:
  1. Teak wood.
  2. Leather pouches.
  3. Pecan wood.
  4. Cherry wood.
  5. Mother of pearl.
  6. Gold.
  7. Silver.
  8. Copper.
  9. Brass.
  10. Walnut.

Styles range from the single leather pouch, single drawer, or multiple drawer grand style. Many men and women today opt to store their jewelry accessories in a safe. Burglary and crime have taught many people that keeping their valuables in a safe is the smart thing to do. Insurance companies often require you to keep your valuable jewelry accessories in a safe in order to be covered.

One of the new unique crazes in fashion jewelry accessories is made by Chamilia. Their catch phrase is “Jewelry that defines you”. There new bracelet has become the rage in Hollywood. The bracelet is unique because the beads interlock together and can be mixed and matched to make the bracelet different and unique. You become the fashion jewelry designer. It allows you to buy as many beads as you can afford and buy the rest later. The beads are made in a variety of materials:

• Silver
• Glass
• Gold
• Crystal

The bead prices vary according to the value of the precious metal. These unique fashion jewelry accessories are being worn by stars such as:

• Venus Williams
• Usher
• Fergie

Just to name a few. This company shows that jewelry accessories are very creative and innovative. They lead the way in jewelry fashion and design. Small companies and artisans shape the jewelry fashion accessory world on a daily basis.

Some jewelry accessories for men include:

• Cuff links
• Tie clips
• Rings
• Bracelets
• Vest chains
• Chains
• Jewelry designed watches.
• Eye glass chains.
• Diamond stud ear rings.

Fashion jewelry accessories do not have to be expensive. Today, you can find accessories to meet everyone’s pocket book. The fashion jewelry accessory is also available in any style and medium that suits your needs. The fashion jewelry accessory can be found locally or over the Internet in the convenience of your own home.

Women even have fashion jewelry accessory parties where they will get together and look at sample jewelry and purchase what catches their eye. The fashion jewelry accessory is more popular today than at any other time in history.