There is a particular alchemy that happens when the days stretch into the evenings, which linger like a new fling on your doorstep. Suddenly, it's easy to remember what it feels like to be warm, flirtatious, and unspeakably drawn to the little joys of life. Summer is glorious - Ii’s rosé at noon, a linen sundress in the middle of the week, and, perhaps most importantly, it is an excuse to reimagine your jewelry box.
Whether you're heading to a friend’s destination wedding in Santorini, dancing barefoot at a backyard party, or simply sipping a Negroni on your fire escape in a silk slip and sunhat (hello, dream life), summer jewelry is a key part of that undeniable glow.
So, if you’ve been wondering what jewelry trends for summer are worth investing in, or pulling out from the depths of your grandmother’s dresser drawer, this guide will walk you through the best warm-weather pieces for necklaces, rings, and bracelets, including styling tips for everything from beachwear to wedding guest attire.
Summer Jewelry Style: Set the (Gold) Tone
Before we get into the sparkle specifics, let’s talk metal and mood.
Gold summer jewelry is the star of the season. The way yellow gold reflects sunlight off bronzed skin or peeks from behind a loose braid feels particularly made for summer. It exudes an old-world richness that pairs perfectly with tan lines and flowing fabrics. But fear not, for those who prefer a cooler, more minimalist vibe, silver summer jewelry is having a quiet resurgence, especially in the form of sculptural cuffs and delicate layering chains.
In terms of stones, think vivid but not loud. Summer jewelry craves color, but not chaos. Aquamarines, peridots, opals, turquoise, and pastel sapphires bring just the right amount of visual breeze. Diamonds, as always, remain in season, especially when they’re vintage cut or set in unexpected antique designs.
Necklaces: The Sun-Kissed Centerpiece
Necklaces are the unofficial jewelry MVP of summer. You don’t have to worry about your fingers swelling from the heat or bracelets clinking on a sweaty wrist. They’re there, quietly elevating a clavicle, sun-dappled and glowing.
This year’s summer jewelry trends for necklaces are all about intention. There's a gravitation toward vintage pendants, antique lockets, and charm-laden chains that tell a story. Think Edwardian or Victorian pieces, preferably ones that feel like they could have survived a shipwreck and resurfaced, miraculously, still gleaming.
Layered gold chains are back (again), but this time with a twist; layering isn’t just about size, it’s about texture. Mix a vintage rolo chain with a delicate station necklace, then add a punchy colored pendant, like a turquoise drop or tiny amethyst vial. Of course, diamond pendants never disappoint either.
Want to take it further? Add a summer statement necklace, perhaps something with a pearl or opal centerpiece, which pairs beautifully with strapless linen dresses, breezy cotton jumpsuits, and open-necked button-downs worn as beach cover-ups.
Rings: Tiny Stories on Sunkissed Fingers
It seems like summer rings are the epicenter of special summer memories. The one you wore to the music festival when you met your now husband, or the one you lost in a sparkling foreign sea. Summer rings are emotional and romantic. They catch the light as you lift your spritz glass. They glisten as you point out “that cute place over there” that you just discovered the night before, but now seems like your local hangout.
This season, cute summer jewelry means stacking, stacked vintage bands, mismatched gemstone rings, and one giant cocktail ring if you’re bold (and you obviously are). While winter rings tend to be muted, jewelry for summer invites play. Think oversized colored stones, intricate antique settings, and textures that look like they’ve seen a few decades.
Art Deco designs, with their sharp geometry and unapologetic glamour, are especially in vogue. They offer structure to the loose, romantic silhouettes we favor this time of year. Try a vintage Art Deco ring with your next flowy white eyelet dress. The contrast is divine.
For weddings, garden parties, or rooftop elopements, you can't go wrong with an Edwardian engagement ring or a Retro style ring that gives Old Hollywood meets the Mediterranean coast. You don’t have to be engaged to rock one. Right-hand rings are made for late summer nights.
If you’re going full beachcore? A slim vintage gold band worn on the thumb or pinky adds just the right amount of glamorous edge to a bikini-and-sarong combo.
Bracelets: Bangle Season is Back
There’s something impossibly chic about a single gold bangle slipping down your wrist as you push your sunglasses onto your head. It says: I have nowhere to be, and yet, I’m exactly where I should be.
Bracelets in summer are less about weight and more about movement. Whether you’re dancing under string lights, reaching into a cooler, or opening your new favorite book on your beach chaise, bracelets are designed to dance.
The biggest jewelry trends for summer are extremely diverse and include vintage chain bracelets that echo 70s yacht glam and charm bracelets that tell stories of summers past. Additionally, delicate cuffs with subtle inscriptions or inlay work, and stacked bangles, preferably vintage, in a mix of gold and silver summer jewelry tones.
The biggest jewelry trends for summer are extremely diverse and include Vintage chain bracelets that echo 70s yacht glam and Charm bracelets that tell stories of summers past. Additionally, delicate cuffs with subtle inscriptions or inlay work, and Stacked bangles, preferably vintage, in a mix of gold and silver summer jewelry tones.
A particularly romantic look is pairing a floaty floral dress with a chain bracelet featuring a single vintage heart charm, or a slinky silk tank with a stack of hammered cuffs. Think of bracelets as the jewelry equivalent of a summer breeze: they shouldn’t weigh you down, they should lift you up.
And yes, even at the beach, a well-chosen bracelet can stand out. Pair a rope-style gold bracelet with your one-piece and a straw sunhat, and you will suddenly find yourself being offered complimentary prosecco by strangers.
How to Style Summer Jewelry with Summer Clothes
Summer styling is all about ease and elevation. You don’t want to look like you tried, just like you wandered out of a Slim Aarons photo with effortless elegance.
Some unfailing pairings:
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Linen sundress + gold chain necklace + aquamarine ring
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High-waisted shorts + silk cami + chunky silver cuff
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Maxi dress + layered vintage bracelets + pearl drop earrings
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Swimsuit + button-down coverup + slim vintage gold band on pinky
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Wedding guest look? Add a vintage cocktail ring and a dainty pendant with soft-colored stones. It says “I’m elegant” without outshining the bride (unless you are the bride, in which case: go wild with vintage diamond wedding rings).
Women’s summer jewelry has moved away from matchy-matchy sets or overly trendy pieces. This season’s vibe is mismatched, personal, a little nostalgic, and always sun-friendly. Jewelry in the summer should reflect the warmth and lightness of the season, never too heavy, never too serious.
A Final (Sparkling) Note
Summer is short. And while that might be a bit of a bummer in the existential sense, it’s also the perfect permission slip to go all in on the summer jewelry pieces that make you feel alive, interesting, and gorgeous.
Whether you’re wearing a slip dress to the farmer’s market, a straw hat on a boat, or your favorite linen set to dinner in a borrowed backyard, the right piece of jewelry for summer outfits transforms you. It punctuates your mood. It gives your sundress a storyline.
And isn’t that what great jewelry is supposed to do? Tell the world, without words, exactly who you are. So go ahead: stack that ring, layer that chain, slide on that bangle. Summer is not the time to hold back. It’s the time to shine.
Shop the full range of women’s summer jewelry and vintage treasures at Trumpet & Horn, or book an appointment with our experts to find the piece that was waiting just for you.