The 7 Biggest Jewelry Trends From the 2026 Couture Show

With the price of gold at all-time highs, designers at the annual Couture Jewelry Show in Las Vegas leaned into stones, cords, beads, and found objects to offset the cost of the precious commodity. The result was a fresh mix of creativity and resourcefulness, with designers embracing unexpected materials and vibrant colors, from corded necklaces and beaded strands to vacation-ready motifs and Western-inspired details. Follow along for the must-know jewelry trends below.

The Cord Comeback

Pendants and stones, from personal to statement, were strung on leather, velvet, and rubber cords. Emily P. Wheeler featured tricolored fish set in yellow gold on leather cords, while Uniform Object placed oversized diamonds and emeralds on bulky, rubbery bracelets.

Summertime Whimsy

Because this show always takes place at the start of summer, it serves as a vibrant celebration of everything vacation season has to offer. The inaugural collection from Edina Kiss leaned into the pleasures of the season with popsicle pendants in sorbet colors and dripping ice cream cones made of gold. The mini sunglasses pendants paved in rubies and diamonds feature realistic arms that fold. The shells and sea life carvings from Dezso by Sara Beltrán are always a crowd favorite, and this year they did not disappoint with trays upon trays of underwater creatures.

It’s Strand Season

Colorful beads, whether stone, pearl, or enamel, are a wonderful way to usher in summer, and many designers had a strand or two in their collections. Beck Jewels strung one-of-a-kind Murano beads on red thread. Sylva & Cie had long strands of rainbow African beads with Tahitian pearls mixed in to add a touch of elegance. Japanese designer Yutai meticulously mixed classic pearls and polished precious- and semiprecious-stone beads to create modern, seamless strand necklaces.

Shoulder Dusters

Fun shoulder dusters stood out as the It earring silhouette this season. Ten Thousand Things leaned in with huge, artful pink opal mobile versions. Retrouvaí had streamlined bezel-set diamond earrings with more than 20 stones in length, and Marco Bicego designed his shoulder dusters in varying lengths, ranging from three to seven stones each.

Gilded Rodeo

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this summer, the Western trend was in full effect. Harwell Godfrey’s entire collection centered on the West, from large gold horseshoes set with turquoise and opal, belt-buckle details on rings and bracelets, and diamond-encrusted arrow brooches. Marie Lichtenberg created a one-of-a-kind, buttery-soft suede bandana covered in gold paisley studs and ruby stars, finished in real gold thread. And Buddha Mamma had a playful take on the trend with solid-gold and neon-enamel cowboy-boot and cowboy-hat pendants.

Supersized Pendants

Statement pendants stood out as a key necklace silhouette this season. Designers like Francesca Villa and Lalaounis supersized gemstones and embraced bold, eye-catching proportions, turning pendants into focal points rather than finishing touches.

Functional Objects

The line between jewelry and everyday essentials continued to blur this season, bringing functional objects into focus. Jade Ruzzo showcased a compact mirror designed to attach to a chain, while Yvonne Léon infused charm necklaces with playful, interactive elements, including a crystal vase necklace that allows wearers to assemble their own bouquet.