Forget What You Knew About Heart-Shaped Jewelry
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As an avid jewelry lover, the biggest thing I like to remember is that amassing a jewelry collection is a marathon, not a sprint. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love a trend, and I’m all about the spring jewelry trends for 2024.
Especially once you delve into fine jewelry and stuff that’s durable and long-lasting, it gets pricey, and it starts to feel like trend jewelry is too big of a risk. But even if you’re investing in higher-budget items, that doesn’t mean you need to stick to boring pieces—the things you’re going to own for a long time should be a collection that screams you and no one else.
Jewelry is easy to change out but many people (myself included) tend to wear the same pieces day after day—and with good reason. You may have a piece of jewelry with great significance, like a family heirloom or an engagement ring, that adds style and personal purpose to your outfit. Or, you may use trendy costume jewelry to transform the staple pieces in your closet and give them new life. Either way, there’s no wrong way to accessorize.
Some of the most exciting 2024 jewelry trends for me are hearts and charms. We’ve all seen tweets telling guys their girlfriends absolutely do not want heart-shaped jewelry for Valentine’s Day, and I’ve always quietly resented that, but the heart’s time has come. A corny and sincere heart hanging from your neck is actually really cool. It screams Lana Del Rey listener, Emily Henry reader, strawberry matcha latte drinker.
Charms are also everywhere. A community is growing on TikTok where people show their collections of charms, and personally I love it. While the charm bracelets of the 2000s haven’t quite made their stick, a jumble of charms on a neck chain certainly has. Big designers like Marla Aaron’s baby locks and emerging designers like Olivve NYC’s sequin charms are making big splashes, but there are a thousand ways to wear and style charms.
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Hearts
Image Credit: Marla Aaron, Foundrae, Catbird. After centuries of sheer widespread HATRED of heart-shaped jewelry, our cynicism is melting, and thank goodness. Nothing more sincere and cute than hearts, and nothing to show you mean it than dedicating a place in your jewelry stash to it. Maybe I’m biased because I do have a ruby heart charm around my neck that I’m obsessed with it, but sorry I’m right!
LOVE Carved Mother of Pearl Full Heart Pendant in Solid Gold
Gems are often faceted, but there’s something amazing about a carved one. This mother of pearl one is pretty sizable if you don’t want a dainty heart. -
Charms
Image Credit: At Present, Confetti By Jas, Olivve NYC. The best thing about charms is that even if there are some that are really popular styles—hearts, lockets, monograms, etc.—there’s sort of no way to do it wrong. You can mix metals, you can layer chains. You can even get extender accessories to make your jewelry more modular. Charms are more like wearable tokens compared to pendants, which are larger and typically stand on their own.
Olivve Sequin Charm
This sequin charm from Olivve NYC is such a whimsical and creative way to wear gold. It’s unexpected and so recognizable.
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Colored Gems
Image Credit: Kimberly Doyle, Marla Aaron, Catbird. Colored gemstones are honestly so gaggy. Like it’s a rock from the earth. Literal geology. And they look so good paired with a polished metal. Once you get into it with gems, you start seeing things differently. You start appreciating the natural cracks in emeralds, you come to love the split colors in sapphires and tourmalines. You know what I wish got more love? A good smooth, orby cabochon stone. They look like beautiful little fruit snacks.
Lele Sadoughi Archer Pave Hoop Earrings
These lime green pave hoops are so vivid and have a real retro feel to them. They remind me a lot of the glittery lime green eyeshadow Taylor Swift wore in some of her Midnights promo imagery.
Satomi Kawakita Peridot Glacé Ring
A peridot cabochon is so dreamy and luxurious. A perfect splurge if your birthday is in August or if you’re just obsessed with the color green. -
Wabi Sabi
In such a high-fidelity world, people love to return back to the world of homemade, DIY, human-like. We’ve been seeing these molten-looking metal pieces everywhere, especially as young people like Susannah King, a third generation Gen-Z jeweler, show off their processes on TikTok.
Simuero Manta Sterling Silver Ring
This cool silver ring is chunky, and the yellow cabochon plays with light reflection so well.
Zelda Studcuff
Faris is one of my all time favorite jewelry designers. One of my most worn pairs of earrings is from her, and I get complimented all the time. -
Shells
Image Credit: Urban Outfitters, Lili Claspe, J. Crew. Seashells seem to be trending, and my hypothesis is that they’re a derivative of the pearl necklaces that began trending in like 2021 and 2022. The more baroque, natural pearls betray the perfect, round ones in reminding us they actually come from somewhere.
Shell Chain Necklace
A massive shell pendant is as as straightforward as it gets, and with larger, less dainty pieces coming into trend, this is lovely.
Baroque Pearl Necklace
This pearl choker will have you looking like a hot Wilma Flintstone. -
Beaded Chokers
Beaded chokers are in conversation with the friendship bracelet. Whether you want to channel a fairytale princess or Taylor Swift’s Midnights era (one could argue they are the same thing), this trend is the epitome of glamorous. Take notes from the Chanel, Versace, and Dior runways and acquire a bejeweled choker for your next special event.
Tiny Beaded 14k Gold Necklace in Tourmaline
Necklaces like this Tourmaline beaded one layer so well with gold or silver chains.
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The Singular Pendant
Sometimes, less really is more. There’s been a strong emphasis on jewelry stacking over the past few years—the more pieces you layer over the better. But recently, a few designers have taken it upon themselves to break through the stack and emphasize a singular pendant piece. Designer brands that have an overall focus on minimalism like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Bevza brought back the long pendant necklace in the spring/summer ’24 collections.
Stone Serpentine Pendant Necklace
This necklace from Pamela Love has a gorgeous long chain and is made of gold-toned brass with
Jasper and red spinel. -
Layers on Layers
Whether you love it or hate it, this Y2K trend is finally taking its turn at a comeback. Long layered necklaces have re-entered the chat at top fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Burberry, and Chanel. This trend has come in and out of style consistently over the past few decades, which means it’s likely to come back again.
