A rapidly changing wedding landscape that eschews tradition in favour of more casual events and personal touches is creating a myriad of new opportunities. From wedding watches and divorce rings to men’s engagement jewellery and exciting aesthetic alternatives, the nuptials market is more multifaceted and wide-ranging than ever.

Lab-grown diamonds are becoming increasingly cheap and abundant, re-emphasising the rarity and preciousness of their traditional natural counterparts. Alongside accessible man-made diamonds, demand for other affordable stones is rising. The combined impact of these shifts? A recalibration of the gem market, creating exciting new commercial opportunities for the future.

The ongoing industry-wide feminisation of menswear continues to have a major impact on jewellery, bringing with it a renewed interest in historical decadence and pretty embellishment, driven largely by celebrity collaborations and red carpet endorsements. Elsewhere, unisex and genderless collections reinforce this trend’s popularity across the gender spectrum.

Sustainability, value for money, “a safe investment” and uniqueness (also meaning trend-resistant) all rate highly as reasons why consumers increasingly buy into vintage jewellery and watches. Greater demand is leading to better-organised supply, perpetuating a potentially super-healthy growth trajectory. We highlight some of the exciting activity driving interest as well as key aesthetic trends.

The watch world’s future continues to look diversified, with women, Gen Z and Asian consumers proving to be captive audiences with different tastes from traditional timepiece buyers. This represents a massive opportunity for growth in the marketplace, as do aesthetic trends driving newness in product development.

A steady flow of new, purely aesthetic influences (across both jewellery and watches) is keeping visual interest high and engagement well-fuelled. The world of sports is one fresh-feeling source of inspiration, while a fresh take on spirited boho style and unexpectedly playful colour, materials and finish (CMF) cues will resonate commercially from luxury to mass-market levels.