THE EDIT 2022
MODERN VINTAGE
Popular period dramas inspire a new wave of fanciful and fun diamond jewels.
Words: Jill Newman | Photographer: Sharif Hamza | Video: Adam Wamsley | Stylist: Haidee Findlay-Levin | Makeup: Tyron Machhausen | Hair: Tsuki
The new vintage jewelry vibe infuses the spirit of yesteryear into contemporary and chic designs. It’s the best of vintage jewelry – but made even better because it speaks to what women want today: style, substance, and romance. It seems like everyone is looking for a little romance and escapism—and they found it in the wildly popular period dramas—Bridgerton, Gilded Age and Downtown Abbey—which inspired this new wave of obsession-worthy jewels.
Designers have taken dreamy vintage inspirations and transported them into modern times with style and authenticity. There is a sense of old-world artistry and soulfulness in these diamond period-style pieces, yet they are fresh, fashionable and of-the-moment.
It’s expressed in a range of diamante chokers, sparkling chandelier earrings (because who doesn’t love a good chandelier earring?), and glowing rose-cut diamond cocktail rings.
“It’s been a while since vintage was on the high style radar, so this revival is overdue,” says Marion Fasel, Editor of The Adventurine. We couldn’t agree more. It’s a return to pretty, feminine and culturally rich jewelry.
There is an intimate quality to these jewels that make them feel personal with a built-in patina of history and story. You might not be dancing in a ballgown, but the period jewels in Gilded Age have everyone swooning–and wanting beautiful and romantic jewels for day and evening. Designer Jesse Marlo Lazowski’s Alexandra recreates the spirit with rose-cut gemstones set in darkened metal in rings and drop earrings. Arman Sarkisyan’s signature diamond birds set in darkened metal on rings and bangles echo an earlier era–but there’s no doubt they were made for today. And Jenna Blake’s diamond filagree are both delicate and daring in black gold.
Celebrity fashion stylist Jason Rembert is excited about the vintage vibe and has picked his favorites: “Selim Mouzannar’s designs fit well into this category with their mix of diamonds and enamel, which was common during the Gilded Age. Also, Sanjay Kasliwal heavily incorporates rose-cut diamonds into his designs, a pretty popular style in that era as well.”
The obsession with the latest period dramas will fade, but these heirloom quality diamond jewels will never go out of style.