The latest summer lines are tapping into the cool feel of materials like white gold, platinum, pearls and rock crystal.

As temperatures soar, jewelers are taking the heat out of designs with an icy-cool palette of white metals and gemstones. This refreshing diversion from the yellow gold that has dominated jewelry trends over the past decade is unlikely to fade when the season closes. White gold and diamonds are natural bedfellows, but there are other options to consider. White agate, pearls and chalcedony can add an opaque texture, while rock crystal can be carved into bespoke shapes and creates an alluring optical illusion when set over other gems.

Brent Neale Platinum and diamond Mushroom necklace. Photo: Brent Neale.
Brent Neale Platinum and diamond Mushroom necklace. Photo: Brent Neale.


“I got inspired by 15th-century Italian painter Beato Angelico, because he represented many shades of white in his frescoes,” says designer Rossella Ugolini of her own forays into white materials. “I thought of doing the same thing with satin and polished rock crystal, white diamonds and white gold to obtain an elegant and luminous shade.”

Platinum, which continues to track at about half the price of gold, is also making a comeback. Platinum Guild USA enticed a new generation of jewelers to experiment with the hefty metal at this year’s Couture show in Las Vegas, proffering a design showcase that included brands like Retrouvai, Brent Neale, Spinelli Kilcollin, and Harwell Godfrey.

Tasaki Danger Diamonds ring in 18-karat white gold with diamonds. Photo: Tasaki.
Tasaki Danger Diamonds ring in 18-karat white gold with diamonds. Photo: Tasaki.


In Italy, Pomellato has also noticed the shift, unveiling a new, bespoke alloy of 18-karat gold within its Nudo collection: Manganese White Gold, a bright-white precious metal that doesn’t require rhodium plating. The maison has combined it with an achromatic gem selection of white diamonds and milky quartz.

Pomellato Nudo rings in 18-karat white gold with milky quartz and diamonds. Photo: Pomellato.
Pomellato Nudo rings in 18-karat white gold with milky quartz and diamonds. Photo: Pomellato.
Uniform Object Lariat necklace with pearls on an 18-karat white gold and diamond chain. Photo: Uniform Object.
Uniform Object Lariat necklace with pearls on an 18-karat white gold and diamond chain. Photo: Uniform Object.
Harwell Godfrey Platinum ring with diamonds. Photo: Harwell Godfrey.
Harwell Godfrey Platinum ring with diamonds. Photo: Harwell Godfrey.
Rossella Ugolini Gatsby drop earrings in 18-karat white gold with rock crystal and diamonds. Photo: Rosella Ugolini.
Rossella Ugolini Gatsby drop earrings in 18-karat white gold with rock crystal and diamonds. Photo: Rosella Ugolini.
Melissa Kaye Diamond bracelet in 18-karat white gold. Photo: Melisa Kaye.
Melissa Kaye Diamond bracelet in 18-karat white gold. Photo: Melisa Kaye.
Liv Luttrel Marquise Spear Tip diamond ring in 18-karat white gold. Photo: Liv Luttrel.
Liv Luttrel Marquise Spear Tip diamond ring in 18-karat white gold. Photo: Liv Luttrel.

Main image: Chaumet Déferlante earrings in white gold with diamonds. Photo: Chaumet.

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