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The top 5 fine jewellery trends of 2018

Single earring.

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10th August 2018

We’re a little more than halfway through 2018, and it’s already been an absolutely epic year for jewellery.

Scorching new trends and reminiscent throwbacks have been spotted everywhere from the runway, to festivals, to street fashion hot spots. With nods to both statement pieces and understated adornments, this year has seen a huge comeback for the ultimate accessory.

Minimalist designs and bolder pieces alike graced the Autumn/Winter 2018 runways, and a flip through any fashion magazine makes it clear that in 2018, pretty much anything goes as far as jewellery is concerned.

Whether it's bold statements, simple classics, vivid color or see-through pieces, variety is key.  We've rounded up our top five favourite jewellery trends of 2018 so far. What trend will you covet? (Pssst, if the answer is ALL OF THEM, don't worry. You're in good company.)

Statement earrings

The bolder, the better! We love a basic stud, but why should statement necklaces get all the fun? This year, there has been a strong emphasis on earrings that make a major visual splash. On the runway, Zadig et Voltaire presented long, layered silver chain tassel earrings, Oscar de la Renta boasted chunky gold florals splashed with tropical colours, and Jacquemus dazzled with orbiting stones centred in giant gilded hoops.

Celebs and fashion influencers alike have taken a shine to the trend, too. Pia Wurtzbach was seen recently rocking chunky gold ear adornments, and A-listers Selena Gomez, J.Lo and Alicia Keys have all been obsessed with Alison Lou’s LOUCITE - a collection of modern lucite statement earrings. Some of our fave statement earrings come from none other than Cartier, (aka the holy grail of luxury jewellery). Cartier’s iconic Panthere collection features showstopping Onyx Emerald Diamond Gold earrings that will take your breath away, and the elegant Panthere Diamond Drop Earrings make a big statement, too. If you’re the type who likes to take a walk on the wild side, Cartier’s Tiger Stripe Gold Hoop Enamel Earrings are purrfect. This trend is showing no signs of slowing down. It's all about the ears right now!

The Single Earring

Silver screen ingenue Emma Watson has consistently sported the single earring as far back as 2012. She wore everything from simple studs to dangling chains in one ear, and we lived for it. So we're stoked to see this trend making an encore performance. The question is, with the revival of the trend, will Ms. Watson make a one-earring comeback?

On the runway, the single earring trend was in full effect. Zimmerman showcased cascading ethereal shapes with streaming metal strands, Adeam opted for a more punk vibe with chunky, bold silver earrings in one ear, focusing on the edginess of the look. Gorgeous actress Saoirse Ronan embraced the trend recently, wearing a single earring festooned with a teardrop-shaped crystal, paired with a bold purple lip.

On Instagram, single earring trends include peacock feathers and celestial shapes, plus long, single-stranded chains. Somehow it feels liberating to step out with one earring on, so we’re loving this jewellery moment!

Wearing one earring is in itself a unique and confident statement. It says that you’ve got a wild and rebellious streak and that you aren’t neccessarily conforming to what society thinks you should wear. Plus, it looks incredible!

Mismatched Earrings

We know earrings are making up three of the five trends on this list, but we can't help it - in terms of fine jewellery, it really is the year of the ear. Playing well with the quirky one-earring vibe, mismatched earrings are all the rage.

It's not the first time we've seen contrasting earrings, but the trend seems to have reached new heights in 2018. The lovely Meghan Markle herself sported a darling mismatched set early in the year. The Duchess wore a celestial inspired gold crawler in one ear and a delicate wishbone shaped stud in the other.

The trend has also seen enormous success on handmade shopping giant, Etsy. In fact, Etsy trend expert Dana Isom Johnson has reported that "mismatched earrings" has been one of the site's most-used search terms this year. Designers definitely took note of the mismatched earring craze for their Autumn/Winter 2018 shows. Cushnie et Ochs featured powerful mismatched-yet-coordinating geometric shapes in brilliant gold. Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and countless others also made statements with varying degrees of mismatched earrings.

The differences were more subtle in some cases (the same gold hoop, but in a different size for each ear), while others combined two drastically different pieces.

We think mismatched earrings are a fun and whimsical way to express your fashion sense, and an artful, playful way to have fun with style. Here's to those who march to the beat of their own drummer!

Brooches

When you think of a brooch, chances are you think of your grandmother. Well, we’re here to tell you that the 2018 version of the classic pin is a fresh, modern new spin.

From Marc Jacobs’ iconic gold hashtag brooch to Erdem’s pretty pins featured on sweaters, to delicately jewelled designs from Delfina Delettrez, brooches are making a major comeback. Another modern twist on the brooch came with unexpected feathers pinned on shoulders (Christopher Kane) and lapels (Lanvin). On Instagram, brooch trends lean in favour of nature-inspired designs (lots of dragonflies, snakes and peacock feathers). Some of our ultimate favourite brooches include the stunning Diamond Comete Diamond Gold Brooch (which doubles as a necklace pendant) by Chanel, and Cartier’s Platinum Diamond Brooch, a stunning geometric piece that also serves a necklace pendant. We’re all about versatility with our luxury jewels!

Whether you do it with understated elegance or opt for a more daring artsy statement, the brooch is seriously in!

Clear as a bell

Lucite jewellery has made a big splash in 2018, and we are all about the transparent cuffs, earrings, and necklaces that we’re seeing as a result. Between Lizzie Fortunato’s Arc cuff, Seya’s drop necklace, Proenza Schouler’s sculptural glass couture cuff, Alison Lou’s LOUCITE earrings and Chanel showing loads of Lucite jewellery to resemble water droplets on the runway, we can’t choose a favourite!

Youthful vibes abound with see-through jewellery - there’s something fierce and fresh about it. We love how this trend travels through the seasons - perfect for Summer because of its watery, cool-down vibe, but also wonderful for winter, when it can be styled to resemble ice.

We really had to work to narrow it down to our top five, since this year, there’s a new jewellery trend before you can even fasten a clasp! What’s your favourite trend from the list? Like we said at the beginning if the answer is ALL OF THEM, you’re not alone.

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