Silver Jewelry Is Trending – Here’s What You Need To Know

A flash, a streak, a bolt, a sweep – silver’s fluidity in the hands of contemporary jewelry designers is finding new and intriguing territory. From striking sculptural pieces that harness the clean and clear hue of sterling silver, to bite-sized huggies and bracelets crafted in white gold that provide a pure canvas for bright diamonds, cooler tones have taken hold once more.

And nowhere has the metal felt more present this year than on the red carpet, where it’s served as a radiant backdrop for scintillating diamonds and vibrant gems alike. At the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Aubrey Plaza let her white gold, emerald and diamond necklace-and-earring suite by Piaget take center stage, pairing it with a custom ivory satin gown by Loewe, for the premiere of Megalopolis; while former PORTER cover star Simone Ashley accented her Stella McCartney mini dress with a chic, white-gold necklace and matching earrings for the closing ceremony. Meanwhile, at the Oscars, Emma Stone, Greta Lee and Lupita Nyong’o all turned heads wearing showstopping diamonds – all set in platinum or white gold.

The FW24 ready-to-wear collections also saw silver-jewelry sales continue to surge. At Gabriela Hearst, chunky silver cuffs, long drop necklaces and oversized silver hoop earrings added glamour to simple monochrome looks. Meanwhile, at Bottega Veneta, sculptural silver earrings were paired with oversized coats and printed midi dresses on the runway. Elsewhere, Carven showcased mismatched silver jewels in oversized molten shapes.

Consider the wider zeitgeist for elevated yet understated luxury, too, and it’s only natural that silver tones are creeping back in. “Silver’s increased popularity is being driven by a desire to wear more subtle jewelry pieces that work for everyday styling,” explains Ananya Malhotra, creative director of Ananya. The brand’s ‘Scatter’ earrings – crafted from 18-karat white gold and traced with a constellation of sparkling diamonds – are a stunning way to elevate wardrobe staples, from denim to cashmere knits. Similarly, Sophie Buhai’s ‘Metzner’ bracelet will look chic layered over the cuffs of an oversized shirt.

If you’re drawn to contemporary pieces, you’re sure to fall head over heels for Lié Studio. Exclusive to NET-A-PORTER, the Copenhagen-based brand’s chunky ‘Flora’ necklace is a chic way to elevate minimal outfits – just look to founders Amalie and Cecilie Moosgaard Nielsen for proof. Meanwhile, Agmes reflects founder and designer Morgan Lang’s appreciation for art and architecture that is inspired by the natural world. “I’ve always loved silver’s reflective abilities when highly polished – it’s reminiscent of water, which makes for quite elegant silhouettes,” says Lang, who has fond memories of visiting Mexico City’s silver markets with her grandmother when she was growing up. “More practically, it always seems to elevate a look without overtaking it. Follow Lang’s lead by pinning the brand’s ‘Gertrude’ brooch – crafted in collaboration with sculptor Simone Bodmer-Turner – to the pocket of a suit.

Whether you go chunky and bold or subtle and sophisticated, there is a whole spectrum of styles to choose from that maintain an unfussiness that feels modern and relevant right now. “I think silver has graduated from being perceived as more of a rock ’n’ roll type of metal to be seen as precious and more fashion-forward,” explains YSSO co-founder Alexia Karides. “I personally love the icy shine you get with silver, and how contemporary it feels,” she adds. A beautiful example, the brand’s ‘1989’ earrings (part of our NET SUSTAIN edit and exclusive to NET-A-PORTER) have been crafted in Greece from sterling silver to resemble seashells.

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