Get ready to glow.
Brightly colored, light-up necklaces are the newest must-have nighttime accessory. The idea is simple and very appealing to the youth market: stylized acrylic charms, such as hearts, stars, crosses, butterflies and teardrop pendants, dangle from a plastic-coated cord. Activate the magnetic clasp and a little light turns on in the charm. Voila! You're glow-in-the-dark.
"It's an instant conversation starter," says Lance Kushner, co-president of GloGear necklaces by Yanova. "Once you see these light up, you want one. It's something that transcends all ages."
The jewelry began popping up about a year and a half ago in gift bags handed out backstage at the Grammys, the American Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. When some celebrities decided to wear them during the telecasts, interest took off.
"I represent a ton of products, but I have never seen one like this that is so universally appealing," says Steve Stein, president of Hollywood Connections, a supplier of celebrity gift bags for Tinseltown parties and events. "When I was giving these things out at the AMAs, I was a god. Everyone — from Britney Spears, Brooke Shields, Christina Aguilera and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, to Jennifer Love Hewitt and Lance Bass of 'N Sync — wanted one or 20."
Stein says he originally thought the baubles were "a kid thing. Boy, was I wrong."
He offers a telling story: "After one of the shows, a lady wearing $100,000 worth of diamonds comes up to me and asks if I have an extra necklace. I kind of ignored her until I found out it was Candy Spelling (wife of TV producer Aaron Spelling). When I gave her one, she put it on right then and there."
The company started actively marketing the necklaces this spring and has sold more than a million units worldwide. "GloGear was created to put a little class into the glow category as opposed to the cheap, disposable glow sticks that have been the rage," says Kushner, whose company is producing custom designs for the Backstreet Boys and Disney. Already out are Britney Spears and 'N Sync necklaces. Spears' designs include a fairy (she has a fairy tattoo), the letter "B" and a daisy emblazoned "Britney." 'N Sync offers three variations on the band's logo.
Created by California designer Steve Ohlund, the mystery behind the light is a patented chip technology that combines tiny magnets and batteries that illuminate the charms from within, so the light source remains hidden. The result is a brilliant glow in bright hues such as red, blue and purple.
GloGear is available in some locations of Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Ames, Kohl's, Claire's Accessories, KB Toys and Musicland or from its Web site, www.glogear.com. Retail prices range from $8 to $10.
Plans include bracelets and a higher-end line featuring precious metals and faceted gems. Custom-made crystal designs also will be available.
"Some people think there is a healing, mystical power in lighted crystals," Kushner says. "We just like the idea that all beauty shines from the inside out."