Why Mixed Metal Bracelets, Necklaces And Earrings Are Top Of Our Wishlist
One tone of gold has dominated in recent years, but now fine jewellery designers are increasingly exploring multi-metal designs, boldly bringing white and rose gold into the mix
Why Mixed Metal Jewellery Is Trending Again After Years Of Yellow Gold-Only Styling
Scroll back far enough on social media and you will see that most stylish tastemakers in the world of fashion and fine jewellery have been bedecked in yellow gold for the best part of the last decade. When stacking became the ubiquitous aesthetic circa, yellow gold seemingly became the preferred medium for a slew of chains, stacks of rings and artful arrangements of studs, huggies and hoops. While yellow gold is going nowhere, white gold is gradually gaining ground, according to fashion retailers.
“Yellow gold remains dominant, making up over half of our sales. However, white gold has grown significantly and now accounts for nearly a quarter, mainly driven by diamond-covered pieces,” reports Richard Johnson, chief commercial officer at Mytheresa. “We are seeing strong demand for mixed metal pieces, with sales outperforming stock this season. Customers are increasingly mixing yellow, white and rose gold for unique, stacked looks,” he explains, with the retailer’s stock shifting to support this trend.
The beauty of shifting to mixed metals, is that you don’t need to cast your yellow gold aside and switch tones entirely, simply invest in some new silver, white and rose gold pieces and you will be set to create an imaginative stack. “Stacking does remain a key trend across necklaces, bracelets and rings, with customers confidently mixing metals now,” confirms Richard.
Unsure where to start with selecting new pieces? Look to the brands who excel in this area. When it comes to ring stacking, no one does mixed metals better than Spinelli Kilcollin. The Los-Angeles based duo, available in the region via NET-A-PORTER, are mixed-metal maestros, with their signature ring stacks crafted from silver, yellow gold, white gold, rose gold and platinum. With stacks pairing two, three or even four bands together, each piece can be worn on multiple fingers, or piled upon one. If your wedding jewellery is yellow gold, a Spinelli Kilcollin ring is an easy way to work silver tones into the mix—choose a stack of silver with some mini yellow gold loops and they will chime together.
Shay, another brand in the NET-A-PORTER fold and a cult favourite of Dua Lipa and Rihanna, crafts mixed metal chains dusted with diamonds, which can effortlessly slipped into an existing wrist stack of one-tone only bracelets, and will pair perfectly with both a steel or yellow gold timepiece.
There are several core collections by regional designers that channel mixed metal energy—Damas’ Revolve collection features similar band-style rings crafted in white gold and diamonds with a gleaming strip of yellow or rose gold at their centre, while its Trio rings feature overlapping bands akin to a Russian wedding ring, mixing rose, yellow and white gold into one.
At Ounass, Boucheron’s iconic Quatre rings feature bands of textured white, rose and yellow gold paired with brown PVD, with their dark accents making them the perfect choice for those who regularly wear blackened silver and want to mix in some warmer gold tones. Meanwhile at Saudi maison Charmaleena, a classic white gold tennis bracelet is made ultra-modern with yellow gold letter charms, and its Freedom and Edges of Nature bracelets are available in white, yellow and rose gold—simply pick whichever tone your current stack is missing. The ultimate addition to your wrist-styling repertoire? Its Ca-Love-Graphy Poem bracelet—a half bangle style set with gleaming white diamonds, in 18-karat white or yellow gold.
The easiest way to instantly inject mixed metal energy into an ear stack is to pick a flurry of studs, hoops and huggies that ascend the ear; Kismet by Milka’s cool and contemporary hoops will create an eclectic and artful arrangement. But the boldest and easiest way to embrace multiple metal tones with a one-and-done investment piece? A bi-colour watch— with iconic models like the Cartier Panthère and Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, you simply can’t go wrong.
Lead Image Courtesy of Instagram / @threadsjewels
