Hot Jewelry Trends for 2023 and 2024
A look back at the jewelry trends that defined 2023 and 2024, and which ones are still worth buying into now. For the current market read, see our comprehensive 2025 jewelry trends guide.
What I Saw at JCK Las Vegas in 2023 and 2024
JCK Las Vegas is the largest jewelry trade show in North America. More than 30,000 buyers, designers, and gem dealers walk the floor each year. I spent both 2023 and 2024 talking with vendors, watching what wholesale buyers were writing orders for, and tracking which pieces moved fastest in our own collection in the months after each show. Five themes were unmistakable across those two years.
Organic and nature-inspired designs were everywhere. Leaves, vines, bees, butterflies, and dragonflies turned up on rings, pendants, and earrings, often with diamond and gemstone accents. Statement earrings ran in parallel, with oversized chandelier and asymmetrical drops in colored stones taking center stage. Pendants leaned toward layering and mixed materials, including enamel, resin, and recycled glass paired with gemstones. Layered necklaces moved from a styling tip to a buying pattern, with collectors mixing chain weights, bead textures, and pendant lengths. Colored gemstones, especially emerald, sapphire, ruby, and Australian opal, took back attention from solitaire diamonds.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, colored gemstone sales grew faster than diamond sales in the United States across 2023 and 2024, and the trade press tracked that same shift at the wholesale level. JCK and the International Gem Society both flagged colored stones as the strongest growth category coming out of those two shows.
The Five Trends as Collector Archetypes
The table below maps the five 2023 to 2024 trends to current Ulka Rocks inventory tiers. Pieces rotate as one-of-a-kind work sells and new finds come back from Tucson and JCK, so treat this as a price-tier and look guide rather than a fixed catalog. Browse the live earrings collection, necklaces collection, pendants collection, and rings collection for current pieces in each archetype.
| Trend | Typical metal | Best for | Price range | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic and Nature-Inspired Pieces | 14k yellow gold or sterling silver with diamond accents | Everyday wear with a story, gifting | $95 to $1,500 | Clean botanical lines, secure prong or bezel work, gemstone clusters that do not snag |
| Statement Earrings | Sterling silver, 14k gold, often with diamond and colored stone accents | Dinner, gallery, evening, color-forward daily wear | $45 to $4,250 | Balanced weight on the ear, secure backs, color that holds up in indoor light |
| Layered Necklaces | Mixed sterling silver, gold-filled, 14k gold | Daily wear, building a wardrobe over time | $40 to $3,000 | Mixable chain weights, varied lengths from 16 to 24 inches, secure clasps |
| Mixed-Material and Statement Pendants | Sterling silver or 14k gold with gemstone centerpiece | Versatile chain-changing, focal-point pieces | $45 to $3,000 | Color saturation in the gemstone, durable bail, materials that age well |
| Bold Colored Gemstone Cocktail Rings | 14k yellow gold, often with diamond halo or accents | Statement daily wear, investment, evening | $274 to $3,000 | Even color across the stone, no obvious zoning, certificate for the higher tier |
For a deeper breakdown of where these trends went next, see the comprehensive 2025 jewelry market trends guide.
Which Trends Are Still Worth Buying in 2026
Two years on, the trends from 2023 and 2024 have sorted themselves into the ones that read as classics and the ones that read as dated. A short field guide.
Still buy: saturated colored gemstones
Emerald, sapphire, ruby, rubellite tourmaline, and Australian opal are stronger now than they were in 2023. According to GIA grading criteria, top-color stones command a measurable premium over commercial-grade material, and that premium has widened across the last two years. A single great colored stone bought in 2024 is the piece that has aged best in most client wardrobes I see.
Still buy: statement earrings and layered necklaces
Both have moved from trend to standard. Asymmetrical drops, chandelier earrings in colored stones, and stacked chain layering all still read as current. Buy quality at the price tier you can afford rather than chasing volume.
Buy with care: nature motifs and mixed materials
Botanical and animal motifs are still made, but the strongest pieces are the ones with clean lines and natural gemstones rather than heavy enamel or resin. Mixed-material pendants with resin or acrylic accents have softened most. If the piece relies on a non-gem material for visual weight, weigh that purchase carefully against a slightly smaller all-gem alternative.
Looking for a piece from one of these archetypes? Browse the earrings, necklaces, pendants, and rings collections, or send me a note through the personal shopping page and I will pull options that match the trend tier you want.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the biggest fine jewelry trends in 2023 and 2024?
The five biggest trends were organic and nature-inspired designs, oversized statement earrings, layered necklaces, mixed-material pendants, and bold colored gemstone cocktail rings. These were the dominant categories at JCK Las Vegas across both years and the patterns wholesale buyers were writing orders against.
Are 2023 and 2024 jewelry trends still in style in 2026?
Three of the five are still strong: statement earrings, layered necklaces, and saturated colored gemstones. Heavy floral motifs and resin or acrylic accent pieces have softened as collectors moved back toward clean metalwork and certifiable colored stones.
Why did colored gemstones overtake diamonds across those two years?
The Gemological Institute of America and JCK trade press both tracked stronger growth in colored gemstone sales than diamond sales in the United States across 2023 and 2024. Buyers were looking for character and color rather than a single classic solitaire, and supply of saturated emerald, sapphire, and ruby tightened, which pulled prices and attention upward.
What colored stones aged best from the 2023 to 2024 trend cycle?
Emerald, sapphire, ruby, rubellite tourmaline, and Australian opal aged best. According to GIA grading criteria, top-color examples of each command a meaningful premium over commercial-grade material, and well-cut pieces from 2023 and 2024 in these stones have held value into 2026.
How do I start a layered necklace wardrobe?
Start with two or three chains in different weights and lengths, usually 16 inches, 18 inches, and 22 inches. Mix metals only if the saturation of any gemstone pendant carries the look. Add a single statement pendant rather than several competing focal pieces. Browse the necklaces collection and the pendants collection for current building blocks.
What should I check before buying a statement earring or cocktail ring?
Check color saturation in the gemstone first, then setting security, then weight on the ear or finger for daily comfort. For pieces over $2,000, ask for a lab report from a recognized lab. The American Gem Society and Gemological Institute of America both publish consumer guidance on colored stone grading.
Where can I read about the current year's trends?
See the comprehensive 2025 jewelry market trends guide for the current market read, and the Cloud Dancer Pantone 2026 jewelry guide for the 2026 color story.
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