Summer is the season for jewelry to shine, but you don’t need to buy new pieces every year. With these 5 essential items, your jewelry can exude timeless charm, ensuring you’ll sparkle every summer.
Pearls are a gemstone choice that perfectly complements the hot summer days, and simple stud earrings are undoubtedly a must-have basic for every girl. But don’t underestimate these tiny studs; they’re incredibly versatile, easily helping you highlight value, taste, or personality.
Entry-level Pieces
For entry-level pearl studs, 6-8 mm Akoya pearls are a great choice. However, try to avoid single pearl styles as they might appear too small and subtle. Instead, opt for designs with a bit more detail and decoration.
Multiple pearl designs, pearls paired with small diamonds, or combinations with mirrored metal can all accentuate the brightness advantage of Akoya pearls, often referred to as “little light bulbs.”
7.75mm Akoya pearls
If you prefer a classic, ladylike style, consider elegant designs inspired by flowers, like the ones Kate Middleton wore in her recent appearance. These emphasize femininity.
Cassandra Goad’s Cavolfiore pearl earrings
For a look that pairs well with office attire, choose designs that combine pearls with geometric metal lines. The use of metal can add some angularity – you know, today’s independent women need a bit of edge in the workplace.
For girls seeking a more unique, vibrant style, consider the currently popular multi-pearl cluster designs. While each pearl may not be large, when combined in a varied, layered arrangement, they create a striking cascading effect.
Advanced Level
For advanced pearl stud earrings, pearls around 10mm are ideal. Pearls of this size can confidently stand alone and showcase their charm.
South Sea pearls, in particular, are naturally large as they’re produced by white-lipped oysters. At this size, pearls are not excessively expensive, even high-quality ones are only “moderately priced,” and there’s a wide range of choices including Tahitian pearls, white South Sea pearls, and golden South Sea pearls, offering a rich variety of colors.
However, a better choice for this size is the button-style earring with a “framed” decoration, which appears more luxurious and, yes, larger.
The earrings from the Van Cleef & Arpels pearl set that Prince Rainier III gave to Grace Kelly as a wedding gift are a perfect example. The pearls themselves are not large, about 10mm, but they’re surrounded by marquise-cut diamonds forming an upward vine pattern, making the earrings appear much larger.
Besides the diamond-studded “luxurious version,” you can also try a particularly cool metal version, fully showcasing the youthful energy and distinct personality of Generation Z.
9.00-9.49mm Black South Sea pearls
If your budget isn’t too high, but you still want large pearl earrings, there are two types of pearls worth trying. One is the mabe pearl, popularized by Princess Diana. These pearls are naturally “half-pearls,” and when set as button-style earrings, they offer great value for money, certainly more cost-effective than white South Sea pearls of the same size.
The other type is the “giant” of freshwater pearls – Edison pearls. These pearls come from a genetically modified freshwater mussel. A spherical nucleus is implanted, with only one nucleus per mussel, ensuring the mussel can focus all its energy on creating a single, extra-large pearl. As a result, their average size is 11-14 mm, rivaling the size of South Sea pearls, but at a more affordable price.
Collector’s Level
Pearl stud earrings also have a collector’s level, which refers to South Sea pearls of 14mm and above. As we know, South Sea pearls nowadays mainly refer to white pearls cultivated by white-lipped oysters in Australian waters.
However, this term actually refers to the place of origin. The South Seas include the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, so golden pearls from gold-lipped oysters in Myanmar, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as black pearls from black-lipped oysters in French Polynesia in the South Pacific, are all considered South Sea pearls.
These three types of pearls are all relatively large because they grow in deep seas with lower temperatures and require longer cultivation periods. Therefore, they have excellent luster and smoothness.
Top-quality South Sea pearls have been highly sought after in the jewelry world in recent years, with their value skyrocketing. Currently, white South Sea pearls are the most popular, with their unique “cool white” complementing various skin tones. They are an excellent choice for single pearl earrings, requiring no additional design – just pure, natural beauty that stands the test of time.
Black pearls, commonly known as Tahitian pearls, are named after their place of origin, just like white South Sea pearls. Tahiti is one of the islands in the Polynesian archipelago. Although called “black,” these pearls actually display a vibrant spectrum of colors, ranging from platinum gray to peacock green.
They possess a natural iridescent effect, making them more suitable for pairing with various colored gemstones rather than being used as single pearl studs.
Tahitian pearls, bi-color tourmaline
Since 1978, when famous tennis player Chris Evert requested a pause during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships to search for her lost diamond bracelet, this seemingly ordinary linear diamond bracelet has earned its own name – the “tennis bracelet.”
Wearing a diamond bracelet while playing tennis? This was an unexpected yet understandable occurrence in the 1970s. Consider the free-spirited era led by the hippie movement, when everyone desired to wear jewelry casually.
During this time, Elsa Peretti launched her “Diamonds by the Yard” collection at Tiffany, while Cartier’s designer Aldo Cipullo created the Love and Juste un Clou bracelets.
Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard tennis bracelet
Today, this trend has resurfaced. Recent popular styles like “relaxed luxury” and “old money aesthetics” follow the same principle as before – people want to wear jewelry freely, even pairing dazzling diamonds with any occasion.
Of course, the tennis bracelet is a highly versatile basic piece – a linear gemstone-set bracelet or bangle. In this era of diversity, many designers have introduced innovative creations. Diamonds are no longer the sole protagonist; various gemstones now have the opportunity to shine.
So, the question arises: which material is best? After all, a basic piece should stand the test of time and be wearable year after year.
Various colored gemstones can be crafted into tennis bracelets. If opting for a single-color design, choosing your birthstone is a good decision, as your jewelry should always have a close connection to you.
Ruby tennis bracelet
Essential Lines tennis bracelet
Diamond and sapphire
If you can’t decide which color suits you best, a rainbow design is also a great option. Many young jewelry designers have launched “Rainbow” collections, using colored sapphires to create a gradient color rhythm.
I Heart Rainbow tennis bracelet
However, to be honest, diamond styles remain the most versatile. Opening the Instagram of “second-generation” supermodel Sofia Richie Grainge is like reading a manual on “How to Style Tennis Bracelets.” She repeatedly wears and stacks bracelets, interpreting Hollywood glamour for Generation Z in her unique way.
Celebrities particularly love wearing diamond tennis bracelets on the red carpet. Adele, Billie Eilish, and Emma Raducanu have all demonstrated how to pair evening gowns with tennis bracelets. Despite their simple design, sparkling diamond tennis bracelets still manage to catch the eye when paired with elegant dresses.
Even brides choose diamond tennis bracelets for their wedding day, as the style is similar to an eternity ring, and diamonds complement the wedding dress perfectly.
For many people, necklaces are essential summer accessories. Whether it’s a low-cut dress or a minimalist white tank top, necklaces are needed to decorate the bare neckline, and often more than one is worn. Chain necklaces are a must-have in your jewelry box. Although they may look ordinary, they are indispensable “basics” for layering.
Metal chain necklaces serve as an “anchor” when layering. Layered necklaces often vary in material, style, color, and length, which can create a chaotic look if there’s too much variation. This is where metal chain necklaces come in as a foundation, setting the tone. Their metallic color and geometric structure provide versatile stability, harmonizing the differences in other materials and making all the “notes” blend together.
When paired with elegant materials like pearls, chain necklaces add strength. When combined with rugged gemstone materials, they have a softening effect. When paired with sparkling diamonds, they bring a sense of relaxation.
Hailey Bieber is an expert in this area, providing various examples of layered metal chain necklaces. Her sense of rhythm is impeccable, mixing different lengths just right, even when paired with body chains, without appearing redundant or complicated.
For petite Asian women, it’s recommended to choose thinner metal chain necklaces as your summer jewelry box basics. The chains shouldn’t be too large or heavy, considering the combined weight of several necklaces when layering. Overly large chains can be too eye-catching and become the dominant element in layering, limiting your style options to just street fashion.
If you find chain necklaces challenging to style, especially for office ladies who might find them too casual, consider getting a small pendant necklace. It can be worn alone with dresses or shirts for work, and paired with chain necklaces for a striking look during leisure time.
Liu Yifei demonstrated this in the popular drama “The Story of Roses,” pairing small pendant necklaces with both “Monet garden style” and “intellectual style” outfits. These necklaces are indeed a top choice for young women – small, understated, yet noticeable.
In winter, small pendant necklaces are often hidden under heavy clothing, but summer is their absolute prime time. Especially designs with colored gemstones shine brilliantly under the summer sun, creating a perfect highlight at the collarbone.
The key to small pendant necklaces is their size, which is also their challenge. An extremely fine gold chain is necessary to suspend the pendant, emphasizing its delicacy and refinement. The pendant itself can be minimalist – sparkling gemstones, elegant pearls, vibrant rubies, noble sapphires, or lively emeralds can all work well. Choose according to your personal style.
Pendants can also showcase craftsmanship, but again, they should be “small and exquisite.” In summer, wearing a small pendant necklace alone aims for a fresh, relaxed look. Consider brands known for their metalwork craftsmanship or classic designs from various brands, but always opt for the smallest size available.
Cocktail rings sound summery just by their name! After work or during vacations, you can enjoy a slightly tipsy experience with friends in the evening. In the night’s lighting, nothing accentuates your personal charm more than a bold and vibrant cocktail ring!
From their inception, cocktail rings have been inseparable from the independent spirit of feminism. As a summer essential, their presence is significant. Because they are the most flexible, vibrant, and eye-catching piece, they must be large in size, interesting in design, and preferably bright in color.
Jewelry designers love this theme, giving them ample space for imagination. Some designers focus on color, favoring high-purity enamel as a perfect complement to various colored gemstones, enhancing their vibrancy. For example, Robinson Pelham uses fluorescent enamel to surround large carat gemstones, making the rings lively and vivid, perfectly matching your summer wardrobe.
Stephen Webster pursues an even more dazzling effect, choosing bi-color tourmaline as the main stone, complemented by rainbow enamel. Brown diamonds are used to pave the transition from the gold band to the colorful enamel, with every detail presenting complex color and texture effects, making this Full Bleed cocktail ring incredibly eye-catching.
Bi-color tourmaline, brown diamonds, white diamonds, enamel
Some designers rely solely on the colors of gemstones, which of course demands higher quality stones. Some choose blue gemstones for a cooling effect – aquamarine, tourmaline, topaz, sapphire, tanzanite, turquoise… all very summery choices.
Tourmaline, aquamarine, diamonds
Others focus on a flourishing midsummer theme, with colorful gemstones echoing natural themes like flowers. Who can resist wearing blooming flowers in summer?
Diorama & Diorigami High Jewelry Collection Ring
Ruby, sapphire, pearl, diamond
The vibrant rainbow jewelry shouldn’t be missed either. Gemstones that naturally possess a full color spectrum are perfect for this theme.
Sapphire, tourmaline, and garnet families are all color-rich. The beauty of rainbow jewelry is its compatibility with summer wardrobes – minimalist black, white, and gray; blue representing clear skies and seas; green symbolizing forests – all harmonize well with rainbows. Even the floral patterns popular every summer can pair well with colorful rainbow jewelry.
Sapphire, amethyst, tsavorite, pearl
These five summer basics have now been introduced. Open your jewelry box and see if you’ve collected them all! If you have all five, you’re undoubtedly a jewelry enthusiast with the potential to be the most dazzling person this summer!
5 Must-Have Jewelry Pieces for Your Summer Treasure Chest: Are You Ready to Dazzle?
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