Bold, 1980s-Inspired Gold Is Fall’s Hottest Ticket

By Victoria Gomelsky | August 30, 2022

It’s been dubbed the “Golden Forty-Year Rule.” Pop culture has a tendency to show its nostalgia for what happened, or is thought to have happened, 40 years ago—about the time when middle-age creatives start getting sentimental about their youth. And jewelry trends are a prime example.

Witness the current obsession with all things 1980s. To state what should be obvious to fine jewelers and their counterparts in the estate jewelry world, where circa-1980s Bulgari, Cartier, and Marina B designs are having a moment: The era of bold gold jewels, of Dallas and Dynasty power dressing, of unabashed consumerism is back!

Known for its unforgettable aesthetics, the period celebrated strong female characters (think Moonlighting’s Maddie Hayes and Working Girl’s Tess McGill)—which may explain why its jewelry made such a big statement.

Contemporary designers, drawn to the decade’s confident, voluminous styles, are reframing classic 1980s looks—bulbous hoop earrings, gold and gemstone rings, and chains galore—with 21st-century touches, such as pavé diamonds and scatterings of colored stones. For prime examples, see the 13 jewels featured below (and at top), all of which were shown at the jewelry shows in Las Vegas in June. We have no doubt you’ll agree that the designs are, like, totally radical.