Six jewels I wish I could have taken home from Switzerland.
While the Baselworld 2018 fair was smaller in size — 650 exhibitors dropped out — the jewelry on display was still worth the transatlantic flight. Trends from the show included minimalist, wearable styles with diamonds or colored stones, collar necklaces, long necklaces for layering, sideways-set hoop earrings, long earrings, asymmetrical and mismatched earrings (a holdover from years past), and pink gems. The pieces I would want to take home, however, are a different story. Think big, bold, and the more gems and pearls the better! Below are six styles I’m still thinking about from the show.
Messika (main picture)
While French diamond brand Messika brought so many significant diamond necklaces to the show that even Harry Winston would be jealous, it was this chic pair of mismatched earrings that got my attention. I love the feather design and asymmetry, and who can argue with all those pear-shape diamonds?
Sutra
Long earrings are still all over the red carpets and runways, so these linear styles from Sutra won’t fall out of fashion anytime soon. The black-and-white diamonds are timeless, the silhouette is lean and geometric, so sign me up for my own pair. They’ll easily go with jeans or a gown.
Yoko London
This collar necklace is part of Yoko London’s new Royal Wedding collection, made excitedly for a certain special upcoming wedding in London, where the brand is based. Scalloped edges, white South Sea pearls and colorless diamonds are ideal for modern monarchs or regular folks like me who just love pearls.
Jacob & Co.
Though Jacob & Co. is famous for its large, rare diamonds, the occasional stunning colored stone also slips into the jeweler’s collection. Case in point: this pair of drop earrings with more than 100 carats of morganite — rarely found in such large sizes. There are also 8.61 carats of diamonds, but those morganites are the stuff of dreams.
Picchiotti
Picchiotti is known for classic pieces such as big cocktail rings and diamond bands, but the Italian brand veers into the realm of edgy with this tanzanite and diamond number. All classic gems, but the silhouette calls out to a younger client given the elongated marquise pendant and that decadent chain — long enough to layer!
Utopia
Utopia’s Stardust collection earrings are meant to mimic clusters of stars, complete with rose- and brilliant-cut diamonds revolving around a white pearl planet. These don’t fit into any trend spied at the fair, but sometimes a classic white pearl just calls your name.
