5 Popular Contemporary Jewellery Styles – words Alexa Wang

A quick search for contemporary jewellery reveals so many fashionable online jewellery stores and artisans specialising in handmade trinkets. It’s fair to say that contemporary jewellery online is no longer limited to just a few precious metals and gemstones.

Nowadays, pretty much anything can be used to spruce up and accessorise your look. It’s all a matter of juggling the things you like with the styles that are currently trending. This is why it’s worth taking the time to explore the most distinctive contemporary jewellery styles, and how you can achieve them.

The Modern Minimalist

People who value minimalism appreciate a sleek look, that lacks unnecessary ornamentation and excessive colouring. Most minimalist pieces tend to be subtle and discreet, bringing a dose of mystique to the person who wears them. What’s more, minimalist jewellery goes well with almost any outfit, which partly explains its massive popularity amongst women who want to look effortlessly cool. Typical examples include rings, bracelets, necklaces and body chains in simple silver and gold jewellery online. That said, simple doesn’t mean boring. Don’t shy away from painted pieces or items that contain tasteful inscriptions, as they can add a dose of interest to your overall look.

The Bohemian Hippie

Speaking of colour, one of the most enduring styles of our age is the good old-fashioned bohemian look. This is a look that is perfect for festivals. Brought to mainstream popularity in the 1960s, the dreamy hippie dream look has been updated for the modern age. The designers and wearers value style as much as substance. Instead of traditional materials like silver and gold, pieces associated with this style often use unconventional materials like flowers, feathers and wood. Aside from the usual bracelets, rings and necklaces which can be given a bohemian flavor with some clever sprucing up, try dreamcatcher headpieces, flower crowns and wooden bracelets.

The Glamorous Sophisticate

Truly glamorous people go for broke. Standing out from the crowd is no easy feat, so they tend to pull out all the stops in order to look their best. Their jewellery reflects that, featuring pieces with a flair for the dramatic. Common materials include industry stalwarts like silver, gold and cubic zirconia. The crystalline diamond look is a perennial favorite, as are vivid earrings and matching pendants. The occasional tendency towards clutter can be avoided by respecting the generally accepted rule of only wearing up to three different accessories at the same time.

The Eccentric Shapeshifter

Who says that all jewellery types are set in stone? The eccentric shape shifter finds inspiration in visionary style icons like Iris Apfel, who aren’t afraid to go off the beaten path in search of a unique look. Painted ceramics of all shapes and sizes rule the day here, often in colours that range from garish to comparatively restrained. Gemstones are also popular, including classic favorites such as sapphire, amethyst and topaz. As befits a style whose mantra can only be described as “anything goes”, a certain amount of tastefulness is required in order to pull off such a daring look.

The Trendsetting Luminary

While some people were born to follow, others live to lead. All jewellery styles have to start somewhere, and people who fashion themselves as trendsetters always want to get in on the ground floor of all the new trends. From replicating the look of cutting-edge fashion mavens like Olivia Palermo to trying out all the new pieces and textures, trendsetters will want to wear something as soon as it hits the runway. Recent trends include chain links, buckles and anything with an industrial vibe, but as trends change from season to season, who better to stay on top of it all than the trendsetting luminary?

That concludes our countdown of the five top contemporary jewellery styles. Feel free to experiment and combine features from more than one trend, but be mindful of not overburdening your look with too many accessories. Always keep in mind that a little bit of good taste goes a long way, so take the time to find an online jewellery store whose reputation you can trust. Do that and you’ll already have taken the first step towards a new, sparklier you.