JK Gems

While I might not make enough money to make drastic changes to my wardrobe on a regular basis, I’ve found other equally effective ways to express myself through fashion. It’s amazing how much difference one’s choice of accessories can make. The very same outfit can go from understated to stunning depending on the earrings, necklace and watch that are paired with it.

I come from a crafty family, so jewelry shopping for me either means scanning the market for beads or larger elements that can be incorporated into a grand design. Lately I’ve been purchasing watch faces online and using my own creativity and initiative to make semi precious gemstone watches from scratch. By the time the piece is completed, I’m left with a sense of satisfaction in knowing that I now own a one-of-a-kind accessory.

When selecting a fashionable timepiece, the watch face is only one of several important criteria. It’s easy to overlook the stylish potential inherent in the watch band. Bands can be composed from any number of semiprecious gems and stones. They should be matched with a watch face that complements the band without overpowering it. For example, if you choose a band with sizeable stones, make sure the face is big enough to compensate.

Custom watches present people with a unique opportunity to mix and match different bands and faces. There’s nothing to prevent you from swapping bands from one day to the next while still maintaining the use of a familiar watch face. Some women like to wear a different band for each day of the week, and others prefer to adapt their watch-wearing habits according to the day’s outfit.

There’s nothing quite as convenient as always having the time right at your fingertips, which is why watches have remained such a popular fashion accessory for so long. But with the huge increase in the number of cell phones, a lot of people have chosen to take the watch off and check the time, instead, on the phone. For this reason, the tried and true functional watch has essentially come and gone. It had its heyday, but now when people choose to wear a watch, it’s because they think the look of the watch adds something to their outfit.

This is why unique watches are becoming so much more common. While it used to be difficult to find a colorful or different watch, this is now the norm. With faces that are bright colors or contain an alabaster inlay, these watches sport unique face shapes and interesting bands. In this way, watches have become increasingly more like bracelets. And the emphasis has definitely shifted from telling time to offering aesthetic appeal. It’s also not uncommon to see people sporting watches with dead batteries simply for the look of the watch!

One year for my birthday, my mom gave me a beautiful gemstone watch, one like I had never seen before.  I like wearing unique jewelry, so it was the perfect gift for me, and from then on it was a regular accessory in my wardrobe.  One day I wore my gemstone watch to work, and my supervisor commented on it and said it was beautiful.  Later that same evening, I was out at a restaurant with a couple friends, and the waiter commented on my watch and even brought me a free dessert! 

When a couple weeks passed, I noticed that my friends who were at dinner with me that night had gemstone watches that were similar to mine!  I called them all copycats of course, but with the success I had, I could seldom blame them for wanting to have their own.