Do you think your ethnic/cultural background played a role in your jewelry choices?

[jaysonsmom]

I thought this would be interesting because PS is full of diverse people from all around the world.

I guess I''ll start. When I got my e-ring 6 years ago, I went with what was becoming increasingly popular at the time-- Platinum. I also got a very simple solitaire with one tapered baguette on each side. Most of my mom''s friends (Asian), who live in Taiwan remarked that the white metal didn''t look good on Asian skin tones, but luckily I was born fair-skinned to it was "okay". I think most older generation Asians prefer the look of yellow gold, and the yellower the better. I was also living in the US, and a lot of people commented that my e-ring was too big, and too dangerous to wear when I went back to Taiwan to visit my parents. My first e-ring was 0.81ct, not at all big by US standards. Most people in Taiwan wear simple bands, and if they do wear a diamond, it''s tiny, and set into the band (like the etoile setting). I can''t imagine what they''d say about my current e-ring, which is only 1.25ct.

Our family moved around the world a lot when we were kids (dad was a diplomat), that is why my mom had several diamond rings that she wouldn''t have gotten had they lived in Taiwan their entire lives. Because my dad is now retired, and they are living there, she no longer feels comfortable wearing her bigger diamond pieces, that is why she gave two of her diamonds to me last year. I had to reset both into platinum settings though, because she had them in 18 kt yellow gold The funny thing is, my mom has no problems wearing her gigantic pearl collection. My mom has pearls in every conceivable size and color. She also has an impressive emerald collection that she''ll occasionally wear. Luckily for me, diamonds are just not catching on in Taiwan yet. I don''t think she''s that into diamonds either, because she said that her darker skin-tone didn''t look good with diamonds

 

[perry]

To put a different twist on the question and answer:

Absolutely:

My background culture is "poor."

I also discriminate. If someone wants to buy something from my business I discriminate based on their ability to pay me.

If I want to buy something I discriminate based on my ability to pay.

So this lill''o me has been greatly influened by my background culture and my developed discriminatory beliefs....

I buy what I can afford, almost always in cash.

Perry

 

[AGBF]

I don''t think my ethnicity played any particular part in what I like. I have always liked yellow gold jewelry that is delicate and classic with stones that are not too large. I have also always liked cultured pearls. Recently I have developed a passion for "high karat" gold (22k and 24K). I associate high karat gold with Asia and I have no Asian background. The yellow looks great with my (very fair, pink-toned) skin, however.

Deborah

 

[Mara]

Not for me, not at all. I was raised very Americanized with not alot of culture involved. I don't even speak another language even though I took three years of Spanish. I CAN say 'where is the bathroom!'.

 

[MrsFrk]

Definitely.
I am Second Generation, my mom is from Hong Kong, my father Taiwan. I was born and raised in California.
I used to actively avoid any jewelry styles that looked very "Chinese". Didn''t want any of that, thank you. I chose white metals in very WASP-y styles.
Well, even though I am fair (which is frequently commented on, old Chinese ladies tell me I look Shanghainese, which is evidently a compliment), white metals just do not look good on me, and I really do love my 22K pendants and jade bangles.
My personal preference nowadays is 18k gold, simple settings. I still don''t like the jewelry that my mother thinks would look good on me- filigreed 22k gold, thick herringbone chains.

 

[valeria101]

Yes. Allot. This means coin jewelry, 'dog-collar' style chokers of beadwork, byzantine gem settings and havily worked precious metals (think chasing, engraving and filigree). The styles I gew up with stayed on although I have followed a personal ambition to get to know all there is about jewelry out there

 

[jcrow]

Date: 9/9/2005 1:24:04 AM
Author: MrsFrk
Definitely.

I am Second Generation, my mom is from Hong Kong, my father Taiwan. I was born and raised in California.

I used to actively avoid any jewelry styles that looked very ''Chinese''. Didn''t want any of that, thank you. I chose white metals in very WASP-y styles.

Well, even though I am fair (which is frequently commented on, old Chinese ladies tell me I look Shanghainese, which is evidently a compliment), white metals just do not look good on me, and I really do love my 22K pendants and jade bangles.

My personal preference nowadays is 18k gold, simple settings. I still don''t like the jewelry that my mother thinks would look good on me- filigreed 22k gold, thick herringbone chains.

what do you mean by wasp-y? i know the term, but was curious to know what jewelry is associated...

this is such an interesting thread...

 

[lmurden]

Ok, if you haven''t figured it out yet I am Black and I think a lot of Black people tend to wear yellow gold because it really compliments the skin tone and it’s a tradition. Now having said tha,t since I have changed my engagement ring to platinum I really love the way it stands out against my skin. Sometimes I am just amazed by the contrast so at this point I think whatever looks good on you WORK IT!

Put the traditional cultural stuff behind you and don''t worry about the not so positive comments because they are just not used to seeing people of color choosing to wear white metals.

 

[ame]

Date: 9/10/2005 12:06:24 PM
Author: lmurden
Ok, if you haven''t figured it out yet I am Black and I think a lot of Black people tend to wear yellow gold because it really compliments the skin tone and it’s a tradition. Now having said tha,t since I have changed my engagement ring to platinum I really love the way it stands out against my skin. Sometimes I am just amazed by the contrast so at this point I think whatever looks good on you WORK IT!

Put the traditional cultural stuff behind you and don''t worry about the not so positive comments because they are just not used to seeing people of color choosing to wear white metals.

I do think gold complements darker skintones, and I tend to think that higher karats look much better. 18+ usually. That said, Platinum, I think, looks great on everyone. It''s a different type of "white" than other white metals.

 

[phoenixgirl]

I don''t think this necessarily has anything to do with culture or ethnicity, but I''ve always preferred yellow gold, I think because my parents had yellow gold wedding bands and I didn''t realize there was platinum out there, even though it turns out that my grandmother had platinum rings. I thought, "What is this crazy white metal people are wearing as wedding bands? Silver?" so I guess I am prejudiced against platinum.

Basically all of my jewelry except for one white gold necklace and my grandmother''s platinum dinner ring is yellow gold.

 

[MrsFrk]

Date: 9/9/2005 5:52:56 PM
Author: jcrow

Date: 9/9/2005 1:24:04 AM

Author: MrsFrk

Definitely.


I am Second Generation, my mom is from Hong Kong, my father Taiwan. I was born and raised in California.


I used to actively avoid any jewelry styles that looked very ''Chinese''. Didn''t want any of that, thank you. I chose white metals in very WASP-y styles.


Well, even though I am fair (which is frequently commented on, old Chinese ladies tell me I look Shanghainese, which is evidently a compliment), white metals just do not look good on me, and I really do love my 22K pendants and jade bangles.


My personal preference nowadays is 18k gold, simple settings. I still don''t like the jewelry that my mother thinks would look good on me- filigreed 22k gold, thick herringbone chains.

what do you mean by wasp-y? i know the term, but was curious to know what jewelry is associated...


this is such an interesting thread...

I mean things like little stud earrings, classic solitaires with plain bands, understated tennis bracelets, italian gold link bracelets, simple pendants, matched pearls. What a matron at a country club would wear.
Like most 2nd gens, I struggled with my image for a long time. I emulated the moms of my wealthier friends- which was a good thing. I learned what fork to use, how to make small talk in any situation, etcetera. How to be elegant. Of course, as I matured I realized how amazing my immigrant parents are, and now I think I have found a happy medium, and am truly a mix of the 2 worlds.

 

[aljdewey]

Date: 9/8/2005 11:28:35 PM
Author: Mara
Not for me, not at all. I was raised very Americanized with not alot of culture involved. I don''t even speak another language even though I took three years of Spanish. I CAN say ''where is the bathroom!''.

Donde es la bana?

And I''m Italian/Irish! (hehehe - cheating, though....my dad was stationed in Puerto Rico for 3 years.)

 

[laney]

Nope. Not at all.

I would venture I am "american" - influcenced by american culture. My mom doesn''t have an e-ring. She has a cz band she''s worn for years. I was never around anyone of means growing up - and honestly can''t remember ever seeing an e-ring. Except for maybe on TV.

That''s kind of weird I guess.

So my choice.. was what I thought was pretty, what I liked based on what was available. I guess I was probably more influcenced by PS.. than my upbringing! lol!

 

[jcrow]

I mean things like little stud earrings, classic solitaires with plain bands, understated tennis bracelets, italian gold link bracelets, simple pendants, matched pearls. What a matron at a country club would wear.
Like most 2nd gens, I struggled with my image for a long time. I emulated the moms of my wealthier friends- which was a good thing. I learned what fork to use, how to make small talk in any situation, etcetera. How to be elegant. Of course, as I matured I realized how amazing my immigrant parents are, and now I think I have found a happy medium, and am truly a mix of the 2 worlds. .............



thanks for the clarification...

 

[partgypsy]

yes, by going the opposite way. I am greek american (father is greek) I love jewelry, but anyone who has seen my big fat greek wedding, "subtle" is not their forte. I''m pretty much turned off big yellow gold hoop earrings, big chains, cruxifix jewelry because of being around it so much, and plus it is not me. I also was turned off that sometimes, and maybe this is a more a recent immigrant thing than restricted to Greek, but about what you wore or drove having to do more with status or being ostentatious than about personal taste. I prefer more delicate pieces, and most my jewelry is in silver.

 

[partgypsy]

I read that over and realize that sounded rather negative.
I also think my background has affected in me a love for jewelry, in that females on both sides of my family loved to wear jewelry; the Greek side lots of gold and charms, my grandmother on my mom''s side, well, she was not dressed unless she put on jewelry. She had entire miniature suitcases filled with her jewelry collection, almost all costume, but something to go with every outfit she put together. Even as kids we would look forward to see how she was dressed. Even though my grandparent''s bed was in the kitchen (a pull down bed, separated from the rest of the kitchen at night by a drawn curtain), she had converted the kitchen''s walk in pantry into her own walk in closet, spaces for her clothes and shoes, and shelves circling the room stacked to the ceiling full of boxes of hats, scarfs, and cases of jewelry.

Man I still have dreams of her closet.