Couture Jewelry Trend: The New Chandelier Earring

For years, mix-and-match studs have stolen the show. Now, contemporary designers are focusing on bolder earring styles.

At the Couture jewelry trade show, concluded earlier this month in Las Vegas, several designers were embracing high-impact looks courtesy of chandelier earrings, and they weren’t just the usual suspects.

For Sylva & Cie, Irene Neuwirth and David Webb, a great pair of statement chandeliers can always be found in their showcases, but even designers who don’t typically favor the silhouette have been putting their own spin on the style.

Margery Hirschey is a fan of a statement earring and, as of late, has been churning out loads of chandelier styles. She debuted several new geometric, mobile-like examples at the jewelry trade show in her signature organic touch.

Many of the whimsical pieces featured different shapes and sizes of the hand-cut gemstones Hirschey favors—particularly of the emerald and ruby variety, as the designer often works with Gemfields--which make the chandelier feel modern and irreverent.

Margery Hirschey 22-karat yellow gold earrings with emeralds ($18,700)
Lito’s Lito Karakostanoglou is a forerunner of the current jewelry trend. Every few seasons, Karakostanoglou veers in a totally new artistic direction and her gem-laden chandeliers represent her latest.

The collection, which centers on cascading gemstones and also includes necklaces, combines stones like aquamarine, tourmaline, moonstone, iolite and tanzanite with warm yellow gold and thin baroque pearls that lend an almost primitive touch.

Speaking of primitive, Vram designer Vram Minassian made the trending earring silhouette the star of his third collection, “Continuum 3,” which was inspired by the prehistoric era.

Never too literal, it’s also chockful of ridiculously luscious gemstones that make the collection feel ultra-glamorous and red carpet ready. Minassian’s chandeliers are visually striking in part because of their color; several hues of a particular stone like purple sapphire or brown zircon give an ombre effect.

Below, see several eye-catching styles from Couture-exhibiting designers who are breathing new life into the jewelry trend.