7 Vibrant Jewels for a Breezy Late-Summer Wardrobe

Soak up the pleasures of the season with a these bold gems.
Mark Davis Bakelite bangles
Photo by Alexandra Rowley

With August’s dog days seemingly evaporating in the afternoon sun, now is the time to seize the last few glorious weeks of the season. Before cooler weather’s routine and responsibilities take over, revel in summer’s many pleasures, like swapping stilettos for sandals and embracing an easy, breezy dress code. This fuss-free wardrobe is a prime canvas for transformative jewelry; boldly colored gems and rich yellow gold are all one needs to take a caftan from the beach to cocktails. Whether you’re headed to a cookout on the Cape or aperitivi in Positano, we’ve rounded up seven jewels with which to close out the season in style. And although sundresses and bikinis may be forced into retirement after Labor Day, these pieces have a summer glow that can enjoyed all year long.


Coral and Amethyst Earrings by JAR

Coral and Amethyst Earrings by JAR

With its vibrant hue, coral is summer made manifest. Buttons of the increasingly rare material, in exceptionally flawless form, are accented with dazzlingly purple amethysts in these eye-catching chandelier earrings by celebrity favorite Joel Arthur Rosenthal.


Cartier Silver-Gilt Necklace Belt

Cartier Silver-Gilt Necklace Belt

Earthy, organic disks of textured gold vermeil combine to form a piece offering drama and ease in equal measure — ideal for upgrading a basic white T-shirt. Wear it as a necklace or make like Jackie Kennedy Onassis, who famously sported this style as a belt while traipsing around the Mediterranean in the 1970s.


Mark Davis Bakelite Bangle

Mark Davis Bakelite Bangle

Brooklyn-based designer Mark Davis refashions vintage Bakelite into contemporary jewels. This bangle, of striking pistachio green Bakelite punctuated with a rainbow of colorful precious stones, begs to be paired with a caftan and a poolside cabana.


Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold & Diamond Pendant

Van Cleef & Arpels Yellow Gold & Diamond Pendant

Cheeky and effortless, this Van Cleef & Arpels pendant necklace is summer picnic perfection: an incredibly detailed strawberry crowned with diamond-studded leaves, suspended from a superlative chain. Wear it by itself or layer with additional strands for extra glint; either way, it’s a foolproof staple.


Boucheron Lapis Lazuli and Turquoise Cuff Bracelet

Boucheron Lapis Lazuli Turquoise  Cuff Bracelet

This bracelet has all the earmarks of a quintessential summer jewel: lustrous textured gold, a medley of brightly colored stones in aqueous hues and a distinctly Marisa Berenson-in-Marrakech attitude. Even worn in your own backyard, it adds an instant dash of jet-set glamour.


David Webb Coral Cocktail Ring

David Webb Coral Cocktail Ring

Crisp white and vivid red — two shades that beautifully complement sun-kissed skin — find their apotheosis in the gleaming enamel and rich carved coral, flanked by amethyst cabochons, of this boldly oversize cocktail ring. It’s a jewel that’s guaranteed to turn heads at even the busiest barbecues.


Bulgari Enamel and Gold Earrings

Bulgari hoop earrings

With a silhouette that perhaps best captures the season’s lazy, languid mood, hoops are a summertime essential. Striped with bands of painterly blue guilloché enamel and yellow gold, these earrings are the jewelry equivalent of a marinière sweater: chic, classic, timeless.


Loading more stories …

No more stories to load! Check out Introspective Magazine

No more stories to load! Check out Introspective Magazine