We recently connected with Ashley Taylor and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

One of the most notable shifts in the industry is the increasing popularity of lab-grown diamonds. This trend is driven by consumers’ desire for more affordable and ethical options. Lab-grown diamonds, once novel, have now become mainstream, offering consumers the allure and quality of real diamonds without the same environmental impact and high price tag. Similarly, custom jewelry is gaining traction for its personal and unique appeal.

While a few still hold onto the idea of a traditional mined diamond, the benefits of lab-grown diamonds are hard to ignore. Offering identical chemical, optical, and physical properties without the problems caused by mining, they allow consumers to have a bigger, better diamond for the same price and without the negative impact of mined diamonds. For those seeking alternative gems, created gemstones offer a fantastic option, adding a vibrant pop of color and boasting the same mine-free origins.

As far as design trends are concerned, instead of perfectly matching bands and jewelry sets, 2024 is bringing more contrasting stacks, mixed metals, and less symmetrical pieces. Platinum and yellow gold are hot right now, and for good reason. They’re both classic and for a bolder look, they can be mixed and worn together! Chunky and metal-forward pieces, like cigar bands and heavier designs, are overtaking the barely-there daintiness of previous eras. Along with a more maximal style comes a more-is-better approach to necklaces, bracelets, and rings. Why choose just one piece when you can stack them up?

Custom engagement rings and heirloom reworks are also super popular. Many clients repurpose heirloom gems into works of art they want to wear daily. Toi et moi styles (statement two-stone designs) are trending for both engagement rings and fashion pieces, with their irresistible romantic symbolism and versatility.

While it’s always fun to observe new jewelry trends and get new ideas for updating your look, personal preference always reigns supreme. Know your style, decide how you want to incorporate new trends (or not), and be confident in your individual choices. Jewelry can be such an enjoyable mode of self-expression–whether you lean more towards trendy or classic, embrace your style and have fun!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

At Taylor Custom Rings we strive to create jewelry that is “yours, not mined”. We can help you make your ring or other custom piece completely your own, and we can do it with gorgeous mine-free diamonds and gemstones and recycled precious metals.

My husband Jerry and I design our pieces together and launched our first showroom a year ago at The Beacon La Costa in Carlsbad, California. With nine years of experience operating virtually and online, we can help you tell your unique love story no matter where you live.

By crafting our jewelry with real lab-grown diamonds and created gemstones (sapphires, emeralds, rubies, and more) and recycled metals, we can create stunning pieces that require no new mining. Mine-free diamonds are physically, chemically, and optically identical to their mined counterparts and are graded the exact same way for cut, clarity, and color. Their price point relative to mined diamonds allows you to get a bigger, brighter, better diamond for the same price.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Our most important strategy for growing our clientele has always been to give customers the best experience possible. We have always bent over backwards for our customers–we want nothing more than to help them bring their dreams to life. We grew by word of mouth and organic social media alone for years. Since we bootstrapped our business, we never had a big marketing budget, but our customers were delighted by their experience, so they would tell their family and friends. Word of mouth is still the most valuable form of marketing out there.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

My MBA at Babson (which I completed after starting the business) influenced my entrepreneurial thinking the most. The philosophy we embraced there was one of action–talking to people, building quick prototypes, attempting to sell, testing, learning, repeat. The other resource that was most impactful for me was the work of Seth Godin, including This is Marketing, the podcast Akimbo and his daily blog. He teaches marketing with generosity and big picture thinking and incorporates the interesting, intelligent, and whole-hearted–things sometimes left out of marketing specifically and business strategy generally.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.taylorcustomrings.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorcustomrings
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taylorcustomrings

Image Credits

Taylor Custom Rings