By now we’re all aware of how millennials are disrupting the fashion industry, but what about the jewellery business? Are diamonds still a girl’s best friend? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because millennials still romanticise about jewellery, afterall, who could resist pretty little sparkly things? That said, instead of diamonds, millennials are opting for coloured gems like pink sapphires or the Sri Lankan-native Padparadscha sapphire and multi-coloured tourmalines instead. And no, because well, girls of today aren’t waiting for a knight in shining armour to gift it to them—they buy it for themselves, #girlpower. The biggest considerations, however, motivating jewellery purchases amongst millennials are that it has to be modern, cool and unique.
So, if you’re a millennial and are looking to buy beautiful contemporary jewellery, here’s our comprehensive list of 25 brands for your consideration.
American fine jewellery and body piercer, Maria Tash’s fondness for jewellery developed when she attended a jewellery designing workshop with her mom. She actualised her passion after college and since been creating jewellery for over two decades. Tash’s pieces focuses on reimagining Indian and Pakistani aesthetics in unique contemporary jewellery. Her Opal and Diamond Pave Ring is on our wishlist.
Since they appeared on our radar, Los Angeles-based Katherine Kim’s fine jewellery label, KATKIM has been a favorite. Kim calls the likes of Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Kate Hudson and Taraji P. Henson her clients. And her jewellery feature clean lines and unique silhouettes. We’re currently loving this Charlie Pavé Ear Pin from their Ear Pin Collection, comprising 18k yellow gold and was inspired by a safety pin.
Xiao Wang makes the daintiest most opulent fine jewellery pieces for her namesake brand. The New York-based label feature recycled gold (A+ for sustainability efforts) and untreated colourful gems like tourmalines and emeralds. Her Galaxy Rare Diamond Ring is crafted from kite-shaped rosasite, cushion-shaped fossil dinosaur bone, triangle-shaped winchite, white round diamonds, natural color mix shape diamonds and gray diamonds, is not only a great statement piece but also a worthy investment.
WWAKE is the brainchild of New York-based designer Wing Yau, who’s challenging what heirloom jewellery should be with her jewellery label, WWAKE. With a background in sculpture, Yau’s jewellery prominently feature contour shapes. Their Nestled Moonstone and Diamond Ring is definitely one of our favorites. Its features include a single iridescent moonstone, nestled in an arc-shaped band that’s flanked by two diamonds.
The New York-based designer of her eponymous jewellery label Wendy Nichol describes herself as a ‘witch’. Which is probably what intrigued us to check out her pieces and we have to admit, we love them. There’s something quite Morganian about it, especially these Briolette Emerald Cut Ghost Amethyst earrings.
Lise Ferreira is the jewellery designer of Parisian-based handcrafted jewellery label, Vanrycke. The pieces from them are a return to simple sophistication of fine jewellery ranging from white, yellow and rose gold with precious diamond-pavé. Their Coachella Ring in 18k rose gold with diamonds, is our current favorite, which may or may not have anything to do with its name.
Vanessa Mooney is the great-granddaughter of Harry Warner of Warner Bros., so expect old Hollywood glamour reimagined as modern jewellery pieces from her namesake label. We love their Valleta Earrings featuring a twisted emblem up top and a rope-like hoop plated with 14k yellow gold and other metals.
The Mindful Company is a homegrown jewellery label with the intention to spread love and positivity via its jewellery. Which are also meant to be gentle reminders to be kind to one another. We really like their Ruffled Fan Palm Earrings, which are 14k gold plated on sterling silver.
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Los Angeles-based jewellery brand The Last Line was founded by Shelly and Teddy Sanders. The jewellery business insiders created their label with the intention of cutting out the middleman to bring “well-priced jewellery staples every girl needs and wants”. The brand itself is a little tongue-in-cheek and very millennial, with a little ‘90s throwback. Their Diamond and Tri Colour Star Bombe Ring crafted with 14k yellow gold, diamond, ruby, emerald and sapphire is absolute perfection.
Homegrown jewellery label State Property has a lot to tout—they’re an award-winning jeweller inspired by the intersection of nature and science, and gets to call the likes of Michelle Obama, Charlize Theron and Lady Gaga clients. Their Blair Minor Earrings, worn by Theron, was inspired by Connie Blair, the protagonist in mystery novels written by Betsy Allen.
If fun and cool are two words often used to describe you, Origin 31 is the jewellery brand for you. And their Rock Ring featuring all the colours of the rainbow in your choice of 9k or 18k white or yellow gold, definitely embodies the brand’s spirit.
What’s cool about Monarc Jewellery is that its founder and creative director Ella Drake, was inspired to get into the trade from modelling jewellery. The brand emphasises on sustainability and its pieces are crafted by master goldsmiths and touts them to be luxurious and practical enough for everyday. We’re currently loving their Embrasé Diamond & Pearl Hoop Earrings in 9k yellow gold. It’s made with Keshi pearls which are pearls formed without a nucleus and they’re absolutely beautiful.
The artist and couple behind Meadowlark Jewellery is Claire Hammon and Greg Fromont. Their beautiful pieces are handcrafted in their New Zealand atelier from luxurious metals and semi-precious stones. Rihanna, FKA Twigs and Zoë Kravitz are amongst their clientele. Our favorite piece from their collection is the Petal Ring which feature a single tear drop stone surrounded by seven diamond-set petals.
Lisa Eldridge embodies the term ‘multi-hyphenate’. She’s the creative director of Lancome, a makeup artist, an author, owner her eponymous cosmetics line and is also a jewellery designer—which I bet many of you didn’t know. Which comprise coloured gemstones in silver and gold, reminiscent of old school Hollywood glamour but simpler and more modern. We’re loving The Kate Cushion Cut Prasiolite in 18k yellow gold as modelled by Nicole Kidman.
New York-based Jenny Klatt and Stephanie Wynne Lalin teamed up to launched Jemma Wynne in 2008, marketing themselves as a casual luxe fine jewellery brand. “The juxtaposition of precious gemstones and “ready to wear” sensibility” offers the brand a truly millennial POV. Their handcrafted Prive Petite Purple Sapphire and Diamond Huggies featuring 18k white gold is a perfect example of understated sophistication with a twist. If it’s good enough for Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) it’s good enough for us.
New York-based Hernán Herdez is a season-less jewellery line by designer and art director Melissa Hernandez. Their unique selling point is that all pieces are made with recycled metals with help from local silversmiths. There’s something nostalgic yet contemporary about the brand as a whole and its pieces. Our favorite piece from them has to be their Caged Pearl Necklace which feature a beautiful baroque pearl.
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If you’re in the market for beautiful bespoke and ready-to-wear bridal jewellery, check out Gioielli. They’re a fairly under-the-radar Singaporean brand, and their pieces are often spotlighted in local bridal magazines. If you’re feeling fancy, opt for their Crystal Bouquets instead of traditional ones. You won’t be disappointed.
Erica Weiner is a New Yorker through and through, but her namesake jewellery is anything but. Take her Edwardian Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Ring for example; it’s filled with old world European influences, which is precisely why we love it. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for one-of-a-kind engagement rings that can be passed down to the next generations.
Edge of Ember is an affordable luxury jewellery brand with a focus on ethical production and personalisation. They also emphasis that “smart, stylish and talented women who want quality fine jewellery” inspire their pieces. There’s something about Serene Charm Necklace that caught our fancy. Its features comprise a dove, which is a symbol of calm and is crafted with yellow gold-plated sterling silver.
They’re a local jewellery brand inspired by the raw nature of semi-precious stones, geometric shapes and reimagining them with contemporary silhouettes. Pieces from their collections are dainty, a little eclectic and definitely one-of-a-kind. The Curve Ring crafted with tanzanite and silver is reminiscent of a tiara and make for the perfect everyday accessory.
Here’s another New York native jewellery brand for your consideration—Catbird. They’re popularly known for their stackable rings, but we also love them for their intricate dainty details. Their Cosmic Witch Ring is our favorite which is in the model of the lunar phases with several labyrinthine features—available in 14k rose and yellow gold. It’s exemplary of their expert craftsmanship.
London-based Bar Jewellery creates the most beautifully abstract pieces that electric and extremely wearable. Their sterling silver Sfera Earrings are our favorite. It’s made from recycled silver and is handcrafted.
The brand describes itself as “something old meets something new” and we couldn’t agree more. As ironic as it sounds, the pieces from Ashley Zhang are contemporary yet vintage. They’ve got everything from 14k pieces to large-cut diamonds, but the one we’re fawning over is the Small Herringbone Necklace—it’s got a quiet elegance to it that’s really chic.
It was her Paniers Dorés earrings, inspired by leftover fortune cookies, that put Anissa Kermiche and her namesake jewellery label on the map. Bold yet femininine are words we’d use to describe her brand. Apart from eye catching and thought-provoking pieces to boot, the brand has got a cult following led by Leandra Medine. We’re in love with the Orbit Ring, crafted with 18k yellow gold and pearls.
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Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri, otherwise known as Dante Alighieri, was an Italian poet who authored The Divine Comedy. Which serve as inspiration to London-based designer Rosh Mahtani’s jewellery label, Alighieri Jewellery—each piece corresponds to one of the 100 poems. The Infinite Lights Earrings are amongst our favorite pieces.
