Your Ultimate Jewelry Trend Guide For Winter

FASHION

AS IF’S JEWELRY TREND REPORT FOR WINTER 2018

WORDS

by KRISTOPHER FRASER

A kiss on the hand might be quite continental, but diamonds are still a girl’s best friend. It’s not just about the diamond rings and necklaces anymore though. Jewelry choices have evolved to include statement earrings, single earrings, mismatched earrings, heart shapes, hard stones, and hefty gold chains. Jewelry is still considered one of the best buys on Black Friday, and is one of the most luxurious gifts to buy if you’re really trying to impress someone.

After all these years, diamonds still have their luster and companies like Tiffany and Cartier have built a legacy on them. However, in an era of individual style, women are opting to bedazzle themselves in colored and translucent stones, and aren’t going for the traditional Upper East Side look made popular by women like Babe Paley.

Statement earrings came into play this past Fashion Month thanks to designers like Zadig et Voltaire, Oscar de la Renta, and Jacquemus. At their spring/summer 2019 runway show Zadig et Voltaire presented long, layered silver chain tassel earrings, and Oscar de la Renta boasted chunky gold florals splashed with tropical colors. One of Cartier’s most prized offerings as of late has been their Onyx Emerald Diamond Gold earrings from their Panthere collection.

Sometimes, it doesn’t take two to tango though. Single earrings have become popular for those who prefer the asymmetric style. The trend found its way to the red carpet via Academy Award nominee Saorise Ronan wore a single earring festooned with a teardrop-shaped crystal, paired teardrop shape crystal, paired with a bold purple lip. New jewelry brand Futura, which sources from mercury-free gold mines, even took note to the trend and made single earrings a part of their first collection.

Angela Tassoni Necklace courtesy of A. Cicognani Communications

FUTURA single earring courtesy of C&M Media

Saboo Earrings courtesy of A. Cicognani Communcations

For those still wearing two earrings, there’s no need to be traditional about it. Mismatched earrings are all the rage nowadays. The mismatched earring vibe plays on the quirky one-earring vibe. The trend went viral when Duchess Meghan Markle sported a mismatched pair of earrings earlier this year. The Duchess wore a celestial inspired gold crawler in one ear and a delicate wishbone shaped stud in the other. Mismatched earrings have also been Etsy’s most-used search terms this year.

Jewelry’s also found its heart again, literally. Heart shapes have become a popular style for gemstones with a bit of that cute, youthful feel, but done in luxury with diamonds and sapphires.

For the woman who wants a contrast to something feminine and wants a more bohemian style, hard stones like lapis lazuli, tiger’s eye and malachite are all trending. The benefit to hard stones like these is they can be used in pieces where designers are trying to maximize volume.

Speaking of maximalism, hefty gold chains are back. The style originally made popular by Miami’s wealthy Cuban crowd with their Cuban link bracelets and in Hip-Hop videos is back and better than ever. Jewelry designers are doing them with heavier weights of gold for that statement look, and some are even bedazzling them with diamonds.

On the watch front, vintage has made a comeback, as customers are looking for more historically inspired designs. Elegance is in full force, and people are seeking the type of styles that were popular in the 1950 and 1960s. Retro has become all the rage, and despite the sea of smart watches out there, true watch lovers still love a good classic style. Take the Tank Louis Cartier for example, the embodiment of Louis Cartier’s contribution to Art Deco. The watch is an eternal style that generations have adored.

This season for jewelry it’s all about individualism and maximalism. Rather than thinking of it as gaudy, it should be unique to your personal style. Jewelry can make a statement by being fashion and not too flashy. And remember, in the immortal words of Coco Chanel, when accessorizing always take off the last thing you put on, so you don’t need that fourth stacked bracelet when you already have three on your wrist.

“When accessorizing always take off the last thing you put on, so you don’t need that fourth stacked bracelet when you already have three on your wrist.”

– Coco Chanel –

Signature HS Necklace

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Tank Louis Cartier Watch

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Van Cleef & Arpels Palmyre Earrings

Van Cleef & Arpels' High Jewelry creations from the Palmyre collection stream with diamonds like glittering drops of water.

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Khai Khai Earrings

Casual enough for everyday wear, Khai Khai's earrings are crafted in 18-karat gold.

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Vintage Kutchinsky By Mahnaz Collection

This vintage 18-karat yellow gold Kutchinsky cocktail ring features triangular cut tiger's eye set in textured rectangular mounting.

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Irene Neuwirth

Mismatch Earrings

Irene Neuwirth's one-of-a-kind mismatch earrings are designed with removable sculptural charms to mix-and-match on fine white gold pave hoops.

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Miansai Octet Earrings

These delicately polished gold vermeil proves statement earrings can be worn day or night.

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Eye M Tiny Eye Hoop Earring

Handcrafted in Greece, Eye M's Tiny Eye earring showcases a petite 18k yellow-gold-plated sterling silver eye-shaped drop.

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Bianca Pratt Heart Ring

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Goossens Paris Oval-Link-Chain Necklace Handcrafted of polished 24k yellow-gold-plated bronze, Goossens Paris' necklace is composed of graduated, oversized oval links.

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