Eriness 14-karat yellow and white gold signet pinky ring with 0.53 carats of diamonds ($2,495). Signet rings for the pinky along with tennis necklaces and studs with a twist are the biggest diamond jewelry trends our editor is seeing right now.
New York—Shopping for others is one of the biggest challenges of the holiday season.
That’s where classic items come in handy and no gift is as timeless and sentimental as diamond jewelry.
The top current diamond jewelry trends—tennis necklaces, stud earrings, and signet rings—are riffs on classics themselves, modern twists on the most essential and versatile styles.
“Who doesn’t want diamonds for the holidays?” asksEva Fehren co-founder and Creative Director Eva Zuckerman. “The diamond tennis necklace, signet rings and studs are classic staples in any jewelry box, which is why they always make wonderful gifts.”
Experts say these styles don’t go out of style, but also happen to be on-trend thanks to more relaxed styling options that allow the wearer to take them from the office to an evening out.
“Your jewelry should be the constant in your wardrobe—diamond go with everything,” Zuckerman said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to give someone something that is useful, practical and beautiful, and diamond necklaces, signets and studs are all those things.”
Diamond Jewelry Trend: The Tennis Necklace
A simple diamond line or rivière necklace has emerged as one of the biggest diamond jewelry trends in the past few years.
An update from the 1980s and early 1990s, diamond necklace, today’s version doesn’t live in the safe, only to be brought out for special occasions, but, rather, is meant to be worn every day.
More economical options, like Dana Rebecca Designs’ minimal, goes-with-everything version, make great entry-level buys, while more elaborate renditions easily raise the budget.
Today’s designers are putting their own subtle stamps on the classic style, like Zuckerman, who offers diamond charms to go with hers.
“At Eva Fehren, we try approaching traditional pieces from another angle to create modern, wearable diamond jewelry that is edgy, cool, and timeless,” said Zuckerman.
No matter how opulent, trending diamond collars have a relaxed attitude depending on how they are styled.
“You can wear our diamond jewelry as easily with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt as an evening gown. In fact, my own diamond necklace and bracelet never come off, regardless of what I’m wearing or where I’m going.”
Different diamond settings and customizable elements, like Carbon & Hyde’s necklace that incorporates diamond letters, offer new versions for the giftee who has everything, including a few rivière necklaces.
Diamond Jewelry Trend: The Not-So-Basic Stud Earring
It doesn’t get more back-to-basics than a diamond stud earring, but there are so many more options now than a round brilliant-cut diamond version.
A simple bezel setting like the ones from Heather B. Moore feel more modern than a prong, and are a much-asked-for reset option for people upgrading heirloom jewels.
Subtle drops, à la Anita Ko, are just as wearable as a single diamond earring but far more interesting.
As multiple ear piercings continue to trend, customers require more earrings that are relatively low-profile and easy to wear daily.
Options abound, from Shay Jewelry’s fancy-shaped classic studs to Graziela’s illusion-style studs mixing several baguette-cut diamonds.
Diamond Jewelry Trend: The New Signet Ring
With historical significance dating back thousands of years, pinky rings were once primarily men’s domain.
In recent years, women have claimed them too, making them the new de facto right-hand ring.
Like simple tennis necklaces and diamond studs, the appeal of the signet pinky ring is its wearability.
It can just as well be worn alone as stacked with a handful of other rings.
While color and enamel come in and out of style, a diamond version is timeless.
Lizzie Mandler’s knife-edge band with a single diamond center stone, available in a variety of cuts, is a virtual no-brainer for women or men.
Kwiat mixes fancy cuts for a fun smattering of diamonds that livens up the classic silhouette, while State Property goes the extra mile with its cut-out heart-shaped version, adorned with diamond accents.