Choices of Gen Z evolve every day. Between changing seasons and developing designers, fashion is undeniably dynamic. Despite this compelling need to shift through accessories with every outfit comes a trend countering this air of dynamism: permanent jewelry.
“It’s really classic and it’s really timeless. As a woman, I hate putting on jewelry. Usually we have, but long nails or are alone and you can’t really clip things,” said Bella Preciado, owner of La Belle Boutique.
Preciado began selling permanent jewelry after noticing the trend pop up in Utah and Colorado at the beginning of 2022. She attributes the success of permanent jewelry in her boutique and as a whole to social media. The usual culprits for popularizing anything, Instagram and Tiktok, introduced Preciado’s clients to permanent jewelry.
“The automatic reaction in the beginning was confusion. But now that it’s so popular, anytime someone sees the sign, we have our banner, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve seen this on TikTok. Oh my gosh, I want to do this,’” said Preciado.
While permanent jewelry brings the advantage of simplicity to a morning routine, these high-quality, yet affordable pieces also boast lasting relationships. The bracelet’s reputation of durability allows the accessory to act as more than just a style choice. Instead, they can also be worn as a physical manifestation of love and commitment.
“I feel like a lot of the people that come in here like to get that experience doing it together as a couple or as friends or family,” said Samantha Cosio, owner of jewelry boutique Bella Sol.
Welded together in the sterling silver or gold-plated jewelry, are stories from rom-coms to family bonds. One couple traveled from Coachella Valley to the Bella Sol studio in Downey to celebrate their anniversary with matching permanent bracelets. While they only dated for seven months, they lived next door to each other for 10 years before their first conversation.
Friends, bridesmaids, couples and family alike seek these bracelets as a reminder of those they love. According to Preciado, a group of middle school best friends now in their 20s entered La Belle Boutique for matching permanent jewelry.
“All the girls got the same bracelet, and there was the tiniest bit left, and the one who had the baby was like, ‘Wait, is that enough for my daughter?’ And it was so out of the blue, it was the perfect size for this little three-month-old baby,” said Preciado.
While permanent jewelry can last for a few years, the entire process will only take about three to five minutes, according to Cosio. The first step is choosing the chain. This can be the most time consuming step considering the array of options at the client’s disposal. The next is to measure the wrist size to find the right fit. After a cloth is placed between the bracelet and the skin to protect it, in a matter of seconds the bracelet is soldered shut. If you ever need to remove the bracelet, a pair of wire cutters or even strong scissors will do the trick.
“I want to be known for the experience that you get here,” said Cosio. “I want to do more with the brand, not just with the jewelry itself, but giving back to my community and having it be a part of something bigger than just jewelry.”
February marks the three-month anniversary of Bella Sol. The name originates from Samantha’s middle name, Bella, and translates to beautiful in English. The glittering effect of the sun splashing over jewelry inspired Sol.
Simply put, permanent jewelry is welded accessories with the power to fortify relationships. With an essence of infinity and the practicality of its form, the trend of permanent jewelry may last even longer than the bracelets themselves.