James Allen News Center

Sophisticated consumers are purchasing high quality jewelry like no generation has done before it. A strong middle class combined with a vibrant economy has pushed up demand as shoppers seek the right piece to add to their private collections. Trendsetting design is very important for contemporary fashion conscious consumers and leading jewelry designers have responded in kind to meet that demand. Let`s take a look at some of the hot trends in designer jewelry and whose collections are receiving plenty of attention.

The annual Emmy awards are now being upstaged by what the actors and actresses are wearing, not what they are winning. Sure, winning an Emmy is fabulous, but a big part of the show focuses on clothing and jewelry, as celebrities compete in what many are calling a blingfest. Yes, "rocks" like J. Lo`s six-carat pink diamond – reportedly worth about $1.2 million – are all the rage and every celebrity event seems to focus more and more on the bling and less on the awards.

Most shoppers aren`t likely to pay anywhere near what Ben Affleck paid for J. Lo`s ring, but that doesn`t mean they aren`t interested in buying jewelry that is of a high quality and unique. Capitalizing on this trend, the Sarah Blaine Fusion collection offers style and substance, but without the steep price. For example, what sets the Sarah Blaine collection apart from the rest is Ms. Blaine`s unique way of combining a variety of colored gemstones and layering them on a silver ring. Or, taking semi-precious faceted beads and combining them with pearls to make a beautiful bracelet or an elegant necklace. Modern style for modern women; that is the characteristic of the Sarah Blaine collection.

Geena Davis may no longer be playing the president of the United States, but at 6`1" she is an imposing figure who commands a lot of attention at every event she attends. At a recent gala, Davis was the talk of the town when she arrived sporting a lariat style diamond necklace set in a rose gold hue. The necklace and matching earrings, which were presumably borrowed, were valued at a cool $16 million. Take that, J. Lo!

Though well beyond the reach of most people, the lariat necklace worn by Davis underscores one thing: women really like to have something beautiful hanging from their necks. To that end, designer Leon Popov offers an exquisite selection of butterfly rings, pins, necklaces and pendants that any fashion conscious woman would adore. The Popov collection is renowned for its surprising beauty, in a style some actresses would certainly embrace, but without the steep price most consumers wouldn`t be able to afford.

Your personal tastes in designer jewelry may not rival that of Charlize Theron, Julia Roberts, or Angelina Jolie, but that doesn`t mean that high quality designer jewelry has to carry a heavy price tag either. You can make a statement without busting your budget and find that special diamond ring, Leon Popov butterfly pendant, pearl necklace, or 18-karat gold bracelet that fits your personality at a price you can afford. Yes, you can own some of the bling without the matching steep prices.