Israel's Fabulous Fashion Jewelry Collections

Israel has become a world leader in manufacturing and exporting exquisite Fashion Jewelry. Originating with a few craftsmen who immigrated to Israel from Europe, North Africa, and countries like Iran and Yemen, the Israeli fashion jewelry has grown quickly into a multimillion export business, with markets all over the world.

Until the1970's, the Israeli jewelry industry was mostly confined to small, private "cottage industries" that produced mainly for the country's tourism industry or for selective markets abroad. Following the adaptation of technology in manufacturing by mechanical processes, the industry quickly grew and expanded its markets until today the industry has annual revenues that surpass the $300 million mark. Besides the more traditional manufacturing of fine jewelry using gold and precious stones, the industry has more than made a name for itself in the fields of silver jewelry using semiprecious stones and inexpensive fashion jewelry using various metals such as copper, nickel, brass and other alloys, combined with beads, stones, glass, an other materials.

Israel's prominence as a fashion garment and jewelry center is well known by leading fashion houses, quality apparel stores and American upscale mall stores such as Macys, Marshall Fields, and Bloomingdales. Jewelry items including fashion necklaces and pendants, bracelets, rings, broaches, and other items are seen on some of the world's most beautiful fashion models; and are regularly features in such fashion magazines as Cosmopolitan, Elle, Mademoiselle, and She.

Fashion or accessory jewelry has recently become so popular that many women actually prefer wearing it to the more expensive jewelry using diamonds and precious stones. Israeli companies, incorporating the use of computerized technology to design the pieces also take advantage of using state of the art manufacturing machinery in order to reduce labor costs. Many Israeli companies have designed their own websites for marketing their jewelry items on the internet and many companies also take advantage of large web marketing services such as Ebay. Besides producing and marketing fashion jewelry, companies also offer jewelry with religious motifs which include many items associated with the Kabbalah, the ancient study of Jewish mysticism that has become very popular among non-Jews as well, including Hollywood movie stars.

Fashion jewelry comes in a wide variety of types, ranging from traditional to modernistic and with a wide variety of prices. Designer jewelry, i.e. jewelry that is designed to be an accessory for latest fashion designs can include earrings, necklace "chokers", fashion bracelets, fancy belts, pendants, rings and ring bracelets. Some of Israel's more prominent fashion jewelry designers include Yifat Aharoni and Leetal Kalmanson; both of whom have had their creations displayed in prominent local and international fashion magazines.

With more international emphasis being focused on fashion jewelry over fine jewelry, the future definitely looks bright for Israel's fashion and designer jewelry industry.