GENDER
FREE

Celebrities including Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet and Drake are among the growing number of men who are turning heads in fabulous diamond jewels both on and off the red carpet. But, if you thought this trend was just for the famous you are dead wrong. Gender-free jewelry styles that present diamonds with a modern, edgy vibe are going mainstream for any gender who wants to wear them.

While the men’s jewelry trend isn’t new, it was certainly embraced in a big way this past year when we saw A-listers appropriating women’s jewelry. It’s not an easy look to pull off, which is why more designers are moving forward with gender-free styles that have a much broader appeal. These “live in” jewels echo what’s happening culturally right now; it’s clear that instead of being confined to gender rules, men and women want to express whatever suits their personal style.

A jewelry tipping point was when Boucheron became the first jewelry house to present a gender-neutral high jewelry collection in Paris last January. Designers and brands are following suit with androgynous diamond designs, which also speak to more streamlined and versatile aesthetics.

Jewelry editor and stylist Will Kahn says blurring the gender lines puts diamond jewelry in a hip context: “I love seeing young male celebs like Justin Bieber and Brooklyn Beckham borrowing diamond pieces from their partners. There’s nothing cooler than Brooklyn in an Anita Ko diamond line necklace. It turns traditional masculine/feminine style on its head, and it gives new life to the jewelry.”

The emerging gender-free jewelry styles for fall 2021 feature strong, architectural shapes set with diamonds that are relatively unfussy. It’s a style that British designer Shaun Leane has been favored since he started in business more than 20 years ago. “Our look is refined and daring,” explains the designer. “It is attractive to men because there is an edge in the work, and attractive to women because there is an empowerment in wearing not-too-overly-decorative pieces that often pigeon-hole women’s jewelry.”

Men and women want the same things in their jewelry, points out Eva Zuckerman, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Eva Fehren. “They want pieces that feel meaningful and are beautifully crafted and give them confidence,” she says. Signature styles from the brand that answer the call for gender-free jewels are Eva Fehren’s Diamond Line bracelets, Zipper Bands and Diamond Pins.

It’s a look that will be part of every fashionable jewelry wardrobe, because everyone wants options.