Stuller Trend Report: The Steady Rise of Hearts
Stay in the know on the latest style trend that your customers are sure to love.
While the official day of love is approaching, I challenge you to look beyond Valentine’s Day and consider what it means to wear your heart on your sleeve. Or — better yet — your fingers, wrists, neck, and ears. The latest style trend being seen in the jewelry industry will fill you with a warm fuzzy feeling, and it has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day. Hearts are rising to the top of your customers’ jewelry wish lists and not just for Valentine’s Day, but it’s happening year-round.
But what does this mean and why is it happening? How can you make sure their needs are met? In this edition of the Stuller Trend Report, we will dive into these answers and more regarding jewelry styles you’ll just love.
Significance and Symbolism of Hearts
The symbol of the heart can theoretically be traced back to as early as ancient times. Some believe that the shape was originally derived from ivy leaves, fig leaves, or animal hearts — all associated with fertility, love, and life. The heart symbol took on a more recognizable form during medieval times within art as a poetic and romantic depiction of devotion. By the 17th century, the heart became a popular motif in love tokens and jewelry which were exchanged between lovers and solidified the connection the heart had to love.
Today, we see this love symbol manifest itself in more diverse and complex ways. For example, with the rise of an interest in the divinely feminine, traditionally feminine symbols are embraced in contemporary fashion. Additionally, within the younger generation, we see a more prominent and expressive way of showing love in all types of ways including romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love.
Gen Z, as the rising voices in fashion and pop culture trends, embodies certain value-based qualities like loyalty, respect, and open-mindedness. They are likely to be open to non-traditional relationships, placing an importance on emotional communication. They place value on the concepts of a chosen family and self-worth. All these concepts come together to see the drivers of today’s fashion adopting the universal symbol of love as a popular icon within their forms of self-expression.
Hearts in the Mainstream
From fashion runways to the big screen, hearts have become a mainstream design element. Let’s explore instances where hearts have taken center stage in pop culture, demonstrating their enduring appeal and versatility.
Designer brands are a popular place to identify upcoming and rising trends. These brands will often feature these themes in their signature pieces.
Trends can also be found in the jewelry used on the big screen. Ensembles seen in award-winning movies, such as Barbie, provide inspiration for sought-after styles.
The most pervasive trends span beyond a single industry. Hearts are also seen in clothing and accessories.
Offering Trend Jewelry
Having trending styles on hand is a vital way to boost business and address the needs of your customers. Stuller’s 302® Fine Jewelry is a trend jewelry solution for jewelers that gives you access to the most desired jewelry designs at attainable price points — styles that appeal to everyone.
Additions to 302 Fine Jewelry within the latest product release, Chapter 11: LoveStruck, feature pieces showcasing heart motifs. These styles are designed to tell a story of empowerment and self-love.
Tips for Selling Heart-Themed Jewelry
As with selling any jewelry, there are key conversations that can be had with customers to help them find the perfect piece. For heart jewelry, here are a few tips to help you close the sale.
1. Use Storytelling
With an understanding of the symbolism, history, and meaning behind the heart symbol, tell the story behind these pieces to form a connection to their significance.
2. Show Year-Round Applications
Once meaning is attached to the jewelry, you can form a connection between the style and its appropriateness to be worn throughout the year for any occasion.
3. Integrate Personalization
Just as love is personal to each of us, so too is jewelry. Make select pieces one of kind with personalization options, such as choosing a preferred stone or adding an engraving.
Lovingly Worn
As the heart trend continues to captivate, it’s not merely a fleeting fancy but a symbol that resonates deeply. Embracing this trend celebrates love in all its forms and connects with a variety of customers. By offering jewelry that follows the heart trend, you can fill your case with love and share this meaningful expression with all who visit your store.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Dizor
Staff Writer
Taylor holds degrees in Political Science and Communication from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as well as multiple certifications from GIA. His years in the wedding industry and love of fashion trends helps him write content for the on-trend and creative jeweler.