PodcastsAug 20, 2026
Episode 8: Diamond Industry Update With David Bonaparte & Ronnie VanderLindenThe industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
EditorsJun 20, 2018
Couture Jewelry Trend: The New Chandelier Earring
For years, mix-and-match studs have stolen the show. Now, contemporary designers are focusing on bolder earring styles, writes Associate Editor Ashley Davis.
David Yurman “Novella” earrings in 18-karat yellow gold with blue topaz, tanzanite and diamonds ($5,200)
For years, mix-and-match studs have stolen the show. Now, contemporary designers are focusing on bolder earring styles.
At the Couture jewelry trade show, concluded earlier this month in Las Vegas, several designers were embracing high-impact looks courtesy of chandelier earrings, and they weren’t just the usual suspects.
For Sylva & Cie, Irene Neuwirth and David Webb, a great pair of statement chandeliers can always be found in their showcases, but even designers who don’t typically favor the silhouette have been putting their own spin on the style.
Margery Hirschey is a fan of a statement earring and, as of late, has been churning out loads of chandelier styles. She debuted several new geometric, mobile-like examples at the jewelry trade show in her signature organic touch.
Many of the whimsical pieces featured different shapes and sizes of the hand-cut gemstones Hirschey favors—particularly of the emerald and ruby variety, as the designer often works with Gemfields--which make the chandelier feel modern and irreverent.
Lito’s Lito Karakostanoglou is a forerunner of the current jewelry trend. Every few seasons, Karakostanoglou veers in a totally new artistic direction and her gem-laden chandeliers represent her latest.
The collection, which centers on cascading gemstones and also includes necklaces, combines stones like aquamarine, tourmaline, moonstone, iolite and tanzanite with warm yellow gold and thin baroque pearls that lend an almost primitive touch.
Speaking of primitive, Vram designer Vram Minassian made the trending earring silhouette the star of his third collection, “Continuum 3,” which was inspired by the prehistoric era.
Never too literal, it’s also chockful of ridiculously luscious gemstones that make the collection feel ultra-glamorous and red carpet ready. Minassian’s chandeliers are visually striking in part because of their color; several hues of a particular stone like purple sapphire or brown zircon give an ombre effect.
Below, see several eye-catching styles from Couture-exhibiting designers who are breathing new life into the jewelry trend.
Colette black rhodium-plated 18-karat white gold earrings with emeralds, diamonds and pearls ($8,000)
David Webb girandole earrings with amethysts, turquoise, emeralds and diamonds (price upon request)
Fernando Jorge “Brilliant” earrings in 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds ($273,240)
Irene Neuwirth 18-karat white gold earrings with Akoya pearls and diamonds (price upon request)
Joana Salazar chandelier earrings with amethyst and green tourmaline in 14-karat rose gold ($5,985)
Lalaounis “Honeycomb” chandelier earrings in 18-karat yellow gold with diamond accents ($5,800)
Lito 14-karat yellow gold earrings with aquamarine, gray freshwater pearls, green tourmalines and white pearl picks ($2,330)
Nikos Koulis “Oui Collection” 18-karat white gold and black enamel earrings with white diamonds (price upon request)
Saboo 18-karat white gold earrings with rose-cut emeralds and diamonds (price upon request)
Sylva & Cie “Maya Collection” earrings in 14-karat rose gold with pink tourmalines ($12,125)
Temple St. Clair 18-karat yellow gold “Seta Spinel Fringe” earrings with royal blue moonstone, lavender spinel, pink spinel and diamonds ($15,500)
Todd Reed 18-karat yellow gold earrings with fancy color diamonds and white diamonds ($21,560)
Vram one-of-a-kind “Chrona” earrings in black rhodium-plated 18-karat white gold with purple and lavender sapphires and diamonds ($52,000)
Yossi Harari “Reyna” earrings in 24-karat yellow gold with multicolor sapphires ($6,054)
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Editors
The Latest
TechnologyAug 20, 2026
A New AI-Powered Gemstone Identification App Is HereFounder Vik Westermann said the app is a “starting point” to inspire people to work with appraisers and gem labs, not replace them.
AuctionsAug 20, 2026
Storied Unicorn Brooch Up for Auction Gallops to New Home The Verdura brooch, which belonged to the late Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, was sold to a private collector in Asia.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
Events & AwardsAug 20, 2026
MJSA Education Foundation Names 5 Scholarship WinnersThe five students were awarded a total of $10,000 through the nonprofit’s 2026 “Future of Jewelry Making” scholarship.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsAug 20, 2026
Plumb Club Elects 2026-2027 BoardSteven Lerche is now beginning his term as the youngest member to become president of The Plumb Club’s elected executive committee.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Mike Alexander To Succeed Scott Murphy as Jewelers Mutual CEO Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Policies & IssuesAug 19, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Embraces Dupes With Trade-In ProgramThe jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Zales Wants You to Wear Fine Jewelry Every DayThe new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.
SourcingAug 19, 2026
Vasant Mehta, a Dedicated Diamond Industry Leader, Dies at 81Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
2 California Men Arrested in Fatal Vehicle Smash RobberyOne is the driver who allegedly crashed a car into a Sacramento jewelry store in April, striking a 71-year-old employee who later died.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
CrimeAug 18, 2026
Thieves Snatch $1M in Jewelry From New Jersey Jeweler9lakha Jewelers in Iselin, New Jersey, was the target of a smash-and-grab robbery on Aug. 8.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner’s Tequila Brand Collab on GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
