Is Jewellery Art or Accessory? Rethinking Its Place in Culture

Jewellery has adorned humans for thousands of years, carrying meanings from symbols of power and status to tokens of love and memory. But is it just an accessory, a decorative addition to daily life, or is it a true art form deserving the same recognition as painting or sculpture?

At My Trove Jewels, we think it’s both. Because jewellery isn’t just about how it looks. It’s about what it says. And what it means to the person wearing it.

Form Meets Function

Traditionally, objects created for contemplation were considered fine art, while pieces with practical or decorative use were seen as craft or an accessory. A mass-produced necklace chosen to complement an outfit clearly functions as an accessory. But a handcrafted piece that challenges conventional form and material defies such simple categorisation.

Unlike paintings or sculptures, jewellery interacts directly with the body, turning the wearer into a living canvas. This intimate connection gives jewellery a unique place in material culture.

Likely, when you wear a TROVE creation, you are not just accessorising, you are carrying a piece of handmade art that lives with you. A necklace, a ring, or a bracelet can be chosen to match an outfit, but the pieces that stay with us go beyond style.

Handmade jewellery has a unique connection with the wearer that mass-produced pieces cannot. It becomes part of your story, reflecting your personality, values, and memories.

What does it mean to be a Jewellery Designer?

Let’s be real: jewellery-making is not just a craft. It’s art. Designers start with a vision and translate it into a tangible piece through skills such as metalworking, casting, stone setting, and finishing. These are crafts that take years to master. As designer Shaun Leane said, a piece becomes art through both concept and execution. In this way, jewellers create miniature, wearable sculptures.

What’s It Worth? Depends Who You Ask

Historically, jewellery’s worth was measured by its materials, with gold, silver, and gemstones signalling wealth and status. The twentieth-century art jewellery movement changed this. It placed creativity and concept above material value. Artists began working with unconventional materials such as plastics, textiles, and even paper. Today, the inclusion of jewellery in museums and galleries affirms its recognition as a form of fine art.

Jewellery as Storytelling

Jewellery is one of the most personal ways to express who you are. It can symbolise milestones, honour traditions, or carry memories from generation to generation. A charm bracelet can hold your favourite memories, a ring can mark a commitment, and a pendant can carry a private story only you know.

At My Trove Jewels, we create jewellery that becomes part of your personal story. Every piece is designed to be meaningful, a tangible reflection of your experiences, passions, and style. It’s not just about beauty, it’s about connection, memory, and self-expression.

So what’s our conclusion? Jewellery is both an art and an accessory. It completes an outfit, carries history, and holds memory and meaning. Its lasting significance comes from this multiplicity. Jewellery is powerful because it holds meaning. It celebrates who we are, where we come from, what emotions we feel are and what we value. At My Trove Jewels, we design pieces that allow you to carry these stories with you. Each piece becomes an extension of you and a treasure of your own making.