Nuevo Culture

How to Embrace the Splendid, Artful Allure of Sculptural Gold Jewelry This Season

There is something inherently magical about gilded, sculptural gold jewelry. When a necklace, earring, bracelet, or ring takes the form of an art piece or objet, it’s just too hard to resist, which is why, as a jewelry editor, I am always on the hunt for these bold accessories. My most beloved pieces of sculptural gold jewelry are undoubtedly those from the Phoebe Philo–era of Celine, like her kinetic pendulum-esque pieces and abstract face necklace with enamel eyes. I’ve also long adored classic Elsa Peretti’s bold and organic cuffs, as well as Ana Khouri’s graphic climbing earrings, and Lorraine West’s spherical rings and hoops. And then there are of course the visual artists who dabbled in this kind of jewelry as well, including Calder, Man Ray, and Hervé van der Straeten. To craft this kind of adornment is so often just as much about the artist’s investigation of the human body as it is about the material and mold of the piece of jewelry itself.

Sculptural gold jewelry is both classic and substantial. It works with any ensemble, whether that means you’re getting dressed up this holiday season for a Zoom call, virtual benefit, or socially distanced coffee. At a time when we aren’t looking to drape ourselves in overtly fabulous, glamorous attire, this artful, striking jewelry can provide a certain sense of fashion with a capital F that we’ve been longing for.

If you are indeed in the mood to inject some sharpness and sparkle into your wardrobe, below is our guide to the most alluring sculptural jewelry to adorn yourself with now—or admire as an art piece on a well-appointed shelf.

Tiffany Elsa Peretti High Tide earrings

$1,950

TIFFANY & CO.

Bottega Veneta gold-tone earrings

$530

NET-A-PORTER

Jennifer Fisher XL Crinkle Cuff

$1,095

JENNIFER FISHER

Ana Khouri Delphine 18k gold earrings

$9,905

MATCHESFASHION.COM

Sidney Garber 18k yellow gold rolling bracelet

$16,500

MODA OPERANDI

Charlotte Chesnais Hurly Burly ring

$825

SHOPBOP

Mounser lunar earrings

$195

MOUNSER

Ariana Boussard-Reifel Koba brass bracelet

$600

HARVEY NICHOLS

Moya gold-plated Alexia drop earrings

$225

LIBERTY

Young Frankk Alex gold-plated necklace

$120

MODA OPERANDI

Anissa Kermiche Kinetic Petal gold-plated brass earrings

$250

MATCHESFASHION.COM

Khiry Adder ring

$345

KHIRY

Laura Lombardi gold large Spira hoop earrings

$130

SSENSE

Sophie Buhai + Net Sustain Roman gold vermeil necklace

$975

NET-A-PORTER

Lauren Rubinski link-chain 14k gold choker

$7,920

MATCHESFASHION.COM

Alighieri the Wasteland mismatched hoop earrings

$220

NORDSTROM

Leigh Miller Dollop studs

$199

GARMENTORY

Annika Inez coiled drop earrings

$160

ANNIKA INEZ