Women in Power is a shoo-in as a theme for this year’s jewellery and watch supplement: it is a century since British women got the vote, and they are now powering ahead in an industry where, despite being the main consumers, they didn’t always have much say in what is on offer. The ten most influential women in today’s watch and jewellery world. Plus, why women are driving the move to sustainable materials and traceability in the industry and endeavouring to create better environmental and social conditions. From time immemorial jewellery has been far more than just stones and metal. Why women choose pieces that symbolise anything from events to private messages, and how this varies from their historic sisters. Why diamonds, especially large coloured stones, fetch ever higher prices, and how non-zillionaires can get great bang for their bucks. As gender becomes less of a defining characteristic, why brands are less willing to label pieces as either, with help from designers taking a non-binary stance.
