An assortment of gold jewelry in the Jewels & More: Online Auction. Photo: Corey Maywalt.
With the arrival of autumn, the drop in temperature usually means it’s time to pile on the layers – not just for clothing, but jewelry, too, and especially when it comes to gold. We asked a few tastemakers from the worlds of jewelry, fashion, beauty, and watches on how they style their own gold, and apparently, we aren’t the only ones who think the more the better!
Heidi Garnett, Co-Founder, Gem X
When I think about layering jewelry, I immediately go to vintage and antique. There's something I love about the idea of layering eras as well as jewels. Plus, back in the day, jewelers had perfected the art of creating delicate, intricate pieces that layer so beautifully. My new thing this fall is taking layering beyond necklaces, bracelets, and rings to brooches and even earrings. Quite a few jewelers I love are creating earrings meant to be layered up an ear. The looks are amazing and have me considering adding some new holes as well as jewels to my repertoire.
An earful of earrings or a burst of brooches can look very chic, especially against the sophisticated coats and cozy sweaters of fall. And what a good excuse to spend an afternoon rooting through our jewelry boxes and experimenting with different combinations of jewels – instead of spring cleaning, a little fall blinging!
A Diamond and Gold Brooch. Estimate: $4,000-6,000. Jewels & More: Online Auction.
J.J. Martin, Founder and Creative Director, La DoubleJ
J.J. Martin, founder and creative director of Milan-based lifestyle brand La DoubleJ in front of her vintage jewelry wall at home. Photo: Robyn Lea.
I love gold jewelry. It’s warm, bright, and adds shimmer and glow around your face. I tend to go toward necklaces, and I’d never been a prim necklace wearer. I’m the kind of woman that wears a door knocker around her neck. I love large pendants and I love a chunky, interesting chain. Gold can be expensive these days, so not everything has to be solid gold, in my opinion; mixing in costume jewelry can be a great high-low alternative. I love a statement necklace that’s both a conversation piece, but also something that just brightens your look. For an everyday look, I wear a chunky gold chain with a labradorite stone, and then I like to layer it with a gold metal Neapolitan heart on most days. For an important event I like to amp it up and change those pieces out for ones with more weight and substance to them.
So, necklaces are really my go-to, but if you want to take it up a tier and you’re wearing a really fancy outfit, gold, tiered chandelier earrings are great, with or without stones. In typical fashion, I usually go for the vintage pieces.
Harry Winston, A Pair of Convertible Diamond and Bi-Colored Earclips. Estimate: $35,000-45,000. Jewels & More: Online Auction.
Claudia Mata, Founder of Vertly
I’m a big fan of layering jewelry, especially necklaces. Not only can layering elevate my smaller, delicate pieces to feel more substantial, but it also lets me play around with them to create a more unique look. I love creating a chunky necklace by layering various pendants – and sometimes even adding rings to it. That’s what’s so great about jewelry. You can have so much fun making it your own.
Hermès, A Diamond and Gold ‘Filet D’Or’ Necklace. Estimate: $10,000-15,000. Jewels & More: Online Auction.
Malaika Crawford, Style Editor, Hodinkee
Layering jewelry is the most important step for me when getting ready for anything, from a run to the bodega or a fancy night out. I adore collecting jewels from different places and eras. Jewels are such a cool and nuanced way to connect with various periods of design; stacked gold bangles, for instance, make anything look ‘70s chic.
I think of each piece I’ve collected as a unique personal adornment, but also as a special treasure that means something to me. I inherited this eclectic approach from my grandmother, whose bangles can be heard rattling from a mile away. She is the chicest lady I know, so why not continue the stacking tradition? Call me a pirate, call me a Christmas tree, but layering jewelry is the one part of my personal style that I know will never change.
Malaika Crawford, Style Editor at Hodinkee, learned a thing or two about layering jewels from her grandmother. Photo: David Aujero.
Call me a pirate, call me a Christmas tree, but layering jewelry is the one part of my personal style that I know will never change.
– Malaika Crawford
An Italian Gold Bracelet. Estimate: $1,500-2,500, No Reserve. Jewels & More: Online Auction.
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