Trends
Apr 14, 2025
How TikTok’s Broken Jewelry Theory Reveals Hidden Messages in Damaged Jewelry
A viral TikTok trend invites wearers to read symbolic signs into their broken pieces—while clever jewelers turn cracks into a chance for redesign. 
Lily A. Thompson
lily.a.thompson@fifthavemag.com
Broken jewelry may carry a larger message for its wearer, according to TikTok creators.
TikTok’s “broken jewelry theory” has taken social feeds by storm, spinning everyday accidents into cosmic narratives. Creators film shattered rings and snapped chains, inviting viewers to ponder whether a fractured earring or busted bracelet could be the universe whispering a message. 
While some participants simply revel in the drama of damage, many lean into deeper meanings—consulting astrologers and psychics to decode what a cracked crystal or split chain might signify. Online outlets like Bustle have highlighted this fusion of mysticism and metal, interviewing experts who link broken pieces to both emotional upheavals and spiritual renewals. 
At its heart, the theory posits that breakage isn’t random. A bracelet that gives way could urge you to reassess a relationship; a watch that shatters might forewarn a looming challenge. Even mundane wear and tear gains gravitas, transforming a botched brooch into a catalyst for personal reflection. 
Designers such as Ali Weiss echo this sentiment, viewing a sentimental piece’s fracture as a symbolic nudge rather than mere misfortune. “If a piece carries emotional weight, its breaking can feel like a quiet whisper from the universe,” Weiss explains, underscoring how meaning is woven into every clasp and gemstone. 
For those unsure whether to fix, cleanse, or discard their damaged heirlooms, TikTok specialists recommend embracing all three options: restore pieces through creative redesign, ritually cleanse crystals to release old energies, or bury broken trinkets to return them to the earth. And, of course, many will head straight to their jeweler—proof that even a crack can spark fresh business for redesign and repair services.
Lily A. Thompson is the senior editor, news at 5th Ave. Magazine, covering social media trends and the redesign & repair side of the jewelry market.
