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Textiles / Clothing / Fashion / jewellery | | English term or phrase: jewellery | | This is not exactly a translation question, although it is part of a translation. I would like to know the difference in English between fashion, costume and lifestyle jewellery and what you would collectively call those three types of jewellery in opposition to fine jewellery (gold, diamonds, precious stones). |
|  Rosemary KneippKudoZ activityQuestions: 25 ( 8 open) ( 5 without valid answers) ( 2 closed without grading) Answers: 0
| Local time: 19:12
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| | English translation:fine/fashion jewellery OR precious/non-precious | Explanation:
Is there some reason why you can’t use fashion & costume jewellery as an umbrella term for everything that’s not fine jewellery?
Please note that this answer reflects UK usage.
The term "fine jewellery" usually refers to items that are made from precious metals (gold/platinum) AND display a very high of skill and craftsmanship. Items like silver rings you'd buy from a street market and even mass-produced items in low-carat (or karat if you're in the US) gold are generally not considered "fine jewellery" (as used in the trade) -- see the 2nd reference given below.
The largest trade fair for the UK jewellery industry is International Jewellery London: http://www.jewellerylondon.com . Their "Product Categories" include separate entries for Fashion Jewellery and Costume Jewellery. I would say there was considerable overlap between these two, but businesses that put themselves into the Fashion Jewellery category are generally more trend-driven and their designs change with the times as fashions change. Fashion jewellery may be made from silver or even gold with natural stones, or it could be made from plastic or other synthetic materials. Fashion jewellery can be cheap or expensive.
Costume Jewellery may also be fashionable, but it's unlikely to be made from precious metals (gold/silver) or genuine stones.
If you want to divide the field into only two categories based on the materials used, I'd suggest precious and non-precious jewellery. But note that cheaper “fashion jewellery” could still be made from precious metals (e.g. silver).
If, on the other hand, you want to set out two and only two categories based on price, I’d use fine and fashion & costume jewellery.
(I have some art school background in silversmithing & jewellery design and have attended jewellery trade fairs in the UK & Germany.)
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2nd URL reference won't fit into the box below:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Browse/ID72/14417227/c_1/1|category_root|Jewellery+and+watches|14416987/c_2/2|14416987|Classic+jewellery|14417200/c_3/3|cat_14417200|Hoop+earrings|14417227.htm
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-23 12:13:28 GMT)
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The Argos reference (you'll need to copy & paste the whole URL into your browser to view the page) is meant to serve as an example of jewellery that's made from precious metals but would not be termed "fine jewellery". |
| Selected response from:
urbom
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:12
| Grading comment | 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer |
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| Discussion entries: 0 |
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52 mins confidence:   peer agreement (net): -2 junk jewelry
Explanation:
According to Wikipedia, the following definition is applied to fashion, costume and lifestyle jewelry:
Costume jewelry (also called fashion jewelry, junk jewelry, fake jewelry, or fallalery) is the first jewelry (jewellery) manufactured as ornamentation for the masses to complement a particular fashionable garment or "costume".[2] Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, outdate itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style.[3] Its main use is in fashion, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes, or investments. Costume jewelry is made of less valuable materials including base metals, glass, plastic, and synthetic stones; in place of more valuable materials such as precious metals and gems.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_jewelry
I would call the former jewelry "junk jewelry", since they have no value because they are made of cheap stones, short-lived or be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style.
On the otherhand, gold, diamonds and precious stones never become outdated, and they could be exchanged for money. Many Chinese people wear gold chains or rings not just to show off how rich they are, but if the come across a business situation where they lack money, they would sell their gold chains and rings to make up for the deficit.
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The translation workplace 
