From the physical world to the digital, jewelry is everywhere. This paper will look at the current uses of jewelry in pop culture, specifically video games, and the growing potential for fan-focused jewelry reproduction. By looking at the history of the video game industry, I hope to contextualize the potential market of custom jewelry for gamers. From role-playing games to action/adventure games, jewelry is present in many genres. While not designed as traditional jewelry, game designers and concept artists have brought to life rich fantasy worlds full of metals and precious stones. Most prevalent in role-playing games, which have a history going back to the 1970s, jewelry is used by players to personalize and costume their characters. After looking at this history, we will also take a look at the gaming community, which takes fictional characters and their accessories as models for fully realized, wearable creations.

Author: Paul Hardin