Most parents hope to impart good and strong values in their children, so it may seem odd to see that many teenagers are the recipients of expensive and high priced items such as diamonds and electronics. Presenting a teenager with a costly object is not necessarily making them materialistic. It can be a good way of teaching them to be responsible for their possessions. For instance, there are many teenage fashion trends that involve diamonds. Owning a diamond should be respected and understood by the teenager who receives such a valuable object. This allows them to care for a precious gem and wear it proudly. Some diamond trends that are more “accessories” than jewelry, and these are often the most popular.
Among the most popular teenage fashion trends connected to diamonds are “pledge rings” or “purity rings”. These are given to a child who promises or pledges to remain abstinent from sexual activity or drug or alcohol use for a set period of time, such as upon marriage or reaching adulthood or a specific age. The rings tend to be crafted from pure precious metals and set with good diamonds. They are a symbol of the value of the promise between the parent and the child and serve as a constant reminder to the teenager that they have given a solemn vow.
Remember the “add a bead” necklaces so popular a few decades back? They have returned and are being quickly picked up by teenagers who work hard to “collect” the diamonds and precious stones that can be added to their necklace. These can be really great tools for getting a teenager to reach a goal. For instance, if a semester at school is finished with a set grade point average, or if all chores are done in a timely fashion then they can go and get another stone for their necklace.
Interestingly even teens who have the money to purchase enormous diamond necklaces are sporting these new “charm” or “add a bead” necklaces, and the enormously popular Miley Cyrus wore her own to a special children’s award ceremony in 2009.
Of course necklaces are a perennial favorite with teenagers and another ongoing trend is to have a necklace crafted with diamonds spelling out the wearer’s name. These generally employ very small diamonds or diamond chips, but present a fun and appealing look that can be worn with almost any kind of outfit. These can be seen everywhere on television shows and bought at inexpensive kiosks in shopping malls.
Hearkening back to the past is another popular diamond jewelry trend, and that is diamond friendship bracelets that have interchangeable bands outfitted with diamonds. The owner can “swap” bands with their friends and create their own unique looks. While these are usually diamond bracelets they tend to be lower quality and less expensive stones and therefore don’t present a significant financial investment. They can, however create a sense of responsibility and trust for the wearer who must look after their diamond friendship bracelet because of its monetary value and sentimental connections.
In addition to friendship bracelets, charm bracelets have made a potent comeback and they appeal to a young person’s desire to collect things as well. There are an amazing number of diamond charms and they can quickly fill a young woman’s wrist with miniature symbols of everything from hobbies and careers to animals and insignias. They are a great way to create a gift-giving tradition or method for marking every major achievement or event in their young life.
So, what about the electronics? Teens love their mobile phones, MP3 players, laptop computers and other gadgets and gizmos. In response to the enormous teen ownership of such goods, jewelry manufacturers and other entrepreneurs have created a wide array of cases, components and accessories for such items that, of course, are covered with diamonds.
There are cell phone covers completely encrusted with diamonds and there are those with single “accent” stones. There are “ear buds” or small ear pieces decorated with diamonds, some retailing at thousands of dollars and marketed directly to teens! There are even diamond key chains with small laser lights designed with teenagers in mind as well.
It is important to remember however that most teenagers do not think about the traditional “four Cs” of diamond buying and do not seek to own them because they represent a particular “status”. Most teens understand that diamonds are valuable and precious goods and that their role models or celebrities that they admire sport such “bling” on a regular basis. While it is perfectly natural to emulate those we respect it is important to remind teens that diamonds are an investment and that the purchase of even a single diamond object or piece of jewelry should seen as a significant responsibility.
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