Has it really been only a few years since the taboo against marrying silver and diamonds was broken, when a handful of designers realized the lower price points would appeal to a generation that had already rejected fashion mandates and stereotypes? Today, the trend started by the likes of David Yurman and John Hardy has become one of the strongest, hottest trends in jewelry. Men and women embrace the idea based on its fashion sense, if not its metalsmithing logic. In that sense, diamonds-plus-silver represents not just a trend in the silver jewelry market but also a broader trend that’s carrying the entire industry toward a more progressive view of fashion and design and boosting acceptance of non-traditional materials and combinations.