If babies can wear bangles, then teens planning to attend a prom can ditch the rhinestone stuff in favor of jewelry made of actual precious metals and gemstones. (Or finely wrought enamel or crystal situations designed with an elevated European slant.)
No need to settle for the jewelry equivalent of fast fashion when a little extra coin buys something with substance and sentiment, whether the prom dress itself is from Asos or Altuzarra.
I remember reading over at The Adventurine that Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad gifted her with the Harry Winston diamond necklace she’d borrowed for the 1999 Oscars after she won the Best Actress award for her role in Shakespeare in Love. Can you imagine her delight? And how much she must treasure that piece now that her father is gone?
I like to think of prom jewelry in the context of parents gifting their child with something special that can be worn a gazillion times over (that also happens to go with seafoam green or blush-pink chiffon).
You know that dress will be sitting in her bedroom closet (my Gunne Saxes are still in my mom’s attic), but maybe she’ll wear that jewel you’ve given her to other formal events, like a choir concert or a father-daughter dance.
If it’s senior year, maybe you spend a little more and make it a prom/graduation twofer. Something truly timeless she can take with her to college as a forever reminder of a beautiful moment in May or June…and the family who shared it with her.
Below, 18 sweet ideas.
Three Points ring with opals and diamond in 14k gold, $446; Wwake
Single-row rainbow necklace with ruby, sapphires, emerald, and amethyst in 14k gold, $395; Andrea Fohrman
Sakura bangle with hand-painted white and pink Italian enamel and pavé-set set in rhodium-plated sterling silver, $350; Belle Étoile
Unicorn hoops in 10k gold-plated silver, $325; Jennifer Fisher
Ombré blue topaz pendant in sterling silver. $145; Blue Nile
Juniper diamond earrings in sterling silver, $195; Brilliant Earth
Blue Dream earrings with white, champagne, and cobalt blue crystal gems in rhodium-plated sterling silver, $370; Daniel Espinosa
Boheme D drop choker with turquoise cabochon in oxidized silver on velvet ribbon, $265; Delphine Leymarie
Newport teardrop earrings with rose quartz in 14k gold vermeil, $115; Jemma Sands
White kitten studs in hand-applied enamel, with sapphire eyes in 14k gold, $895; Nora Kogan
Majestic pink bracelet with leather, gold-plated beads, and Swarovski crystals, $175; Izabela Felinski
Mandy ear crawlers with black diamonds in 14k gold, $312; Stella and Bow
Souviens stud earrings with green onyx, turquoise and white sapphires in sterling silver, $200; Gabriel New York
Black and Red All Over necklace with onyx bail in sterling silver, $240; May Came Home
Dance necklace with diamonds in 14k gold, $990; Sydney Evan
Eloise bracelet with colored gems in 18k gold vermeil and nylon cord, $269; Tous
Loucite collection large jelly hoops in clear Lucite over red enamel and brass-plated 14k gold, $165; Alison Lou
Sotto Voce ring with sapphire and diamonds in 14k gold, $510; Jennie Kwon
Top: Image by kennedyphotos via Pixabay
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