Looking Back on 2025

The year 2025 is drawing to a close.

I’d like to say our office and workshop are enveloped in the quiet atmosphere of year-end, but this year has truly been hectic and busy right up until the end.

I’d like to share a few thoughts that came to me during this busy year.

This year, I had many opportunities to speak with customers, and through those conversations, I sensed some subtle changes like the following:

Many customers now prefer jewelry that is “worn for years” rather than merely “flashy.”

At the same time, they demand that the “materials” and “quality” used be solid and reliable.

Furthermore, there has been a growing interest in the “process leading to the creation” of jewelry and the “background of the design,” leading to more opportunities to discuss these aspects.　

Jewelry is inherently glamorous, but I feel the definition and values surrounding that “glamour” are gradually shifting.

For instance, we’ve increasingly heard requests like, “The design doesn’t need to be overly eccentric, but the diamond’s brilliance should be substantial and make a statement,” or opinions such as, “Rather than buying multiple pieces, I want to find one unique item that truly suits my taste, including the story behind its design and creation.”

In terms of “value,” it was a year when the prices of precious metals like gold and platinum, which we often use as materials, also surged significantly.　　The increased demand for gold products, such as 18-karat gold medals, was also notable.

From the perspective of those actually crafting jewelry, this price shift feels like it’s driving a change in creativity. For instance, rather than using more precious metals than necessary, we’re focusing more on refining the form and questioning whether a particular metal is truly essential for the design. Moving forward, greater creativity from the makers will be required.

For my part, I value creating pieces that are not flashy but undeniably beautiful, and as a result, crafting items that possess a beauty worthy of being passed down.

Jewelry that speaks volumes without saying much—pieces that embody that kind of richness and undeniable beauty.

Thanks to many encounters and conversations this year, and the support of our staff, I have safely reached the end of the year. I am truly grateful.

May 2026 be a wonderful year for everyone.

We look forward to your continued support of OKURADO in the coming year.

Hitoshi Okura

OKURADO