The golden age has returned! Yellow gold is having a major moment right now. Well, actually, it never really stopped having a moment, considering people have been using yellow gold continuously since 3000 BCE...but...you know what we mean! Favored for its warm, sunny color, malleability, and long-lasting beauty, this precious metal has been a perennial favorite for jewelry since the time of the Ancients. In modern times, yellow gold was considered the staple for engagement rings, wedding rings, and other fine jewelry up until the 1980s, when, after a visually exhausting decade of jazzercise clothes, Barbasol-ratted hair, and lots of neon, people decided to give minimalism a try. Even up to 2019, people continued to opt for an understated look, preferring pieces like plain Mom jeans, white sneakers, loungewear, and simple platinum, white gold, or rose gold jewelry.
...And then the entire world had to spend almost 2 years stuck inside, staring at the same 4 walls and totally cut off from all human interaction except for the occasional Zoom meeting. Suddenly, simplicity and same-ness didn’t seem so appealing anymore. Everyone--from the world’s most luxurious fashion houses to thrifting-obsessed teens on TikTok--seems to have returned to maximalism for a sense of joy and excitement in the face of a pandemic. Flamboyant, retro-inspired, and often gender-defying fashions have flooded catwalks, red carpets, and Instagram posts, led by houses like Gucci and Valentino, and celebs like Harry Styles and Rihanna. Vibrant colors meet flashy patterns, kitsch designs, mixed materials, and sequins in this escapist approach to fashion, and the perfect complement to this flamboyance is....yellow gold jewelry! “More is more” is the motto going into 2022, and we at Deutsch are here to guide you to completing your perfect maximalist look with yellow gold accessories!
Going for Gold: Your Complete Guide to Maximalist Accessorizing
Yellow Gold Timepieces:
Tudor watches are respected around the world for their reliability and superior craftsmanship, but, more than this, the Swiss watchmakers are famous for experimenting with bold colors and designs. The Tudor Black Bay Fifty-Eight 18k 39 mm Yellow Gold is a daring yellow gold watch, with an emerald-green dial, an 18k yellow gold case and buckle, and a sophisticated brown-black alligator strap--the ultimate accessory for any maximalist-in-training. Plus, even though the watch is marketed as a men’s watch, it can easily be worn as a unisex watch, in keeping with maximalism’s gender-bending traditions.
Yellow Gold Necklaces:
Temple St. Clair is famous for their historical-inspired yellow gold pieces, made in collaboration with the best goldsmiths in Florence, Italy. Richly decorated 18k yellow gold amulets and pendants, often featuring gemstones or quirky carvings, are the Florentine jeweller’s specialty. Fans of the current revival of y2k fashion will adore the Temple St. Clair Rock Crystal Heart Pendant. Those who fancy Hollywood Regency opulence should consider the Temple St. Clair Angel Pendant, an 18k yellow gold pendant inspired by the Baroque period, which showcases a beautifully detailed cherub and three signature diamonds. Even more whimsical is the rock-crystal carved “Man in the Moon” face pendant set into 18k yellow gold! Each of these gorgeous and playful yellow gold pendants can be worn interchangeably on one of Temple St. Clair’s classic yellow gold chain necklaces. For ultimate maxximalista points, consider layering your necklaces in a dreamy cascade of yellow gold!
Yellow Gold Bracelets:
Ashi Jewelry is a pioneer in bracelet and bangle stackability. The delicate yellow gold chains of bracelets like the Ashi Rose-Cut Diamond Chain Bracelet make the perfect starting layer for any bracelet stack! Dazzle even more with the addition of bracelets like the Diamond Fleur de Lis Bracelet, an homage to the opulence of Versailles, or the Oval Link Diamond Bracelet, a sly nod to the prevalence of the “evil eye” motif in folklore. Interrupt the layers of thin chain bracelets with thicker yellow gold bangles like the Diamond Stackable Bangle which comes with diamonds in marquise mounts, heart-shaped mounts, or a charming alternation of circular and pear mounts.
Yellow Gold Earrings:
John Apel Jewelry frequently turns to nature for inspiration, which means the designs are often airy and delicate. For a busy maximalist outfit, a touch of whimsy and lightness like this is a godsend! So if you’ve already stacked your bangles and necklaces, consider wearing yellow gold studs in floral patterns, like the John Apel Bouquet Sapphire Earrings or the John Apel Flower Sapphire Earrings, to keep your look balanced. If you’ve decided to keep your necklaces simple, or to wear your hair back, opt instead for dangly yellow gold earrings. The 18k yellow gold John Apel Diamond Circles Earrings are studded with 1.0 ct of diamonds that will play with light beautifully. For a more dramatic look, the John Apel Diamond Crescent Earrings are ideal; 1.32 ct of white diamonds sit in 18k yellow gold shards that curve gently inwards and elongate the neck.
Yellow Gold Rings:
Vincent Peach Jewelry’s signature style consistently refers back to the founder’s passion for equestrianism. The Vincent Peach Gold Tied Bit Ring in 14k yellow gold uses a bit ring, a part of a horse’s tack that goes in the mouth and attaches to the bridle and the reins, as inspiration for a fashion ring! The warm yellow gold and no-frills geometric design brings some glam to an outfit without it being over the top, especially when paired with other yellow gold rings for stacking. The prize of the Vincent Peach ring collection, however, is the Vincent Peach Finnhorse Gold ring. This 14k yellow gold ring incorporates a braided yellow gold band with the signature Vincent Peach horse relief in the style of a signet ring, surrounded by 1.2 ct of diamonds. That’s taking “stay golden, ponyboy” to a whole other level!