The trend of zapping or welding permanent jewelry in place skyrocketed in popularity on Instagram and TikTok videos in 2022. These dainty necklaces, anklets, and bracelets offer a winning combination of low maintenance and high quality.
The pieces match every outfit, and people can wear them for years without fumbling with clasps or hooks. Sarah Otto, co-founder of LINKED, not only creates the pieces, but she also trains aspiring entrepreneurs to join her in this fun, easy, and profitable trend.
The trend of permanent jewelry in hard numbers
Instagram hashtags featuring permanent jewelry have been included in nearly 150,000 posts. If that wasn’t enough, a search on TikTok for the term “permanent bracelet” will show users a collection of videos totaling over 2 billion total views.
A look at current internet searches reveals just how rapidly the trend is growing. The searches indicate that the interest in permanent jewelry during 2022 spiked by 1102% over 2021, while current monthly searches hover at a volume of approximately 39,000.
“When people first learn about permanent jewelry, they usually have lots of questions,” says Otto. “These pieces may look delicate, but they can go anywhere since they stand up to daily wear and tear for years. If people need to take them off for a medical procedure, we snip them off with jewelry cutters or even a pair of scissors, then zap them right back into place later. Depending on how well customers care for their jewelry and what their pieces are made of, we expect them to last from three to 15 years.”
The modern appeal of permanent jewelry
Traditions of wearing meaningful jewelry date back thousands of years. Even today, most of us can likely recall weaving, gifting, or wearing a candy-striped friendship bracelet made of embroidery floss. The colors of those sentimental strands represented the unique elements bound together in each relationship — purple for sophistication, pink for kindness, black for power, brown for stability, white for truth, and so on.
Permanent jewelry offers a memorable experience to share with friends, family, and loved ones. Choosing chains, charms, and stones with symbolic meaning has become the highlight of engagement celebrations, sweet sixteen parties, girls’ nights out, wedding showers, and anniversaries.
“People come away from experiences like these with fond memories and a lasting keepsake,” Otto explains. “It’s no wonder so many videos find their way to social media platforms!”
As customers find the process of getting zapped fun, interactive, and entertaining, the permanent jewelry trend is quickly becoming a stylish mainstay. The high-quality gold and silver adornments they come away with are as beautiful as they are affordable. Where the trend was once only accessible in pop-up booths, several jewelry stores are now incorporating it as a permanent attraction.
“The permanent jewelry trend is gaining momentum and bringing together almost every demographic,” Otto remarks. “People come to us to create jewelry with personal significance and cherished memories. We bind the necklaces and bracelets around your neck and wrist as an outward symbol of the enduring love and friendship in your heart.”
