Tasteful, Teen-Friendly Jewelry for Prom and Beyond



If babies can wear bangles, then teens planning to attend a prom can ditch the rhinestone stuff in favor of jewelry made of actual precious metals and gemstones. (Or finely wrought enamel or crystal situations designed with an elevated European slant.)

No need to settle for the jewelry equivalent of fast fashion when a little extra coin buys something with substance and sentiment, whether the prom dress itself is from Asos or Altuzarra.

I remember reading over at The Adventurine that Gwyneth Paltrow’s dad gifted her with the Harry Winston diamond necklace she’d borrowed for the 1999 Oscars after she won the Best Actress award for her role in Shakespeare in Love. Can you imagine her delight? And how much she must treasure that piece now that her father is gone?

I like to think of prom jewelry in the context of parents gifting their child with something special that can be worn a gazillion times over (that also happens to go with seafoam green or blush-pink chiffon).

You know that dress will be sitting in her bedroom closet (my Gunne Saxes are still in my mom’s attic), but maybe she’ll wear that jewel you’ve given her to other formal events, like a choir concert or a father-daughter dance.

If it’s senior year, maybe you spend a little more and make it a prom/graduation twofer. Something truly timeless she can take with her to college as a forever reminder of a beautiful moment in May or June…and the family who shared it with her.

Below, 18 sweet ideas.

Wwake opal ringThree Points ring with opals and diamond in 14k gold, $446; Wwake

Andrea Fohrman tiny rainbow necklaceSingle-row rainbow necklace with ruby, sapphires, emerald, and amethyst in 14k gold, $395; Andrea Fohrman

Belle Etoile Sakura bangleSakura bangle with hand-painted white and pink Italian enamel and pavé-set set in rhodium-plated sterling silver, $350; Belle Étoile

 Jennifer FIsher unicorn hoopsUnicorn hoops in 10k gold-plated silver, $325; Jennifer Fisher

 Blue Nile blue topaz necklaceOmbré blue topaz pendant in sterling silver. $145; Blue Nile

 Brilliant Earth Juniper earringsJuniper diamond earrings in sterling silver, $195; Brilliant Earth

 Daniel Espinosa Blue Dream earringsBlue Dream earrings with white, champagne, and cobalt blue crystal gems in rhodium-plated sterling silver, $370; Daniel Espinosa

 Delphine Leymarie Boheme chokerBoheme D drop choker with turquoise cabochon in oxidized silver on velvet ribbon, $265; Delphine Leymarie

Jemma Sands Newport rose quartz earringsNewport teardrop earrings with rose quartz in 14k gold vermeil, $115; Jemma Sands

 Nora Kogan cat earringsWhite kitten studs in hand-applied enamel, with sapphire eyes in 14k gold, $895; Nora Kogan

Izabela Felinksi Majestic Pink braceletMajestic pink bracelet with leather, gold-plated beads, and Swarovski crystals, $175; Izabela Felinski

 Stella and Bow black diamond ear crawlerMandy ear crawlers with black diamonds in 14k gold, $312; Stella and Bow

Gabriel NY Souviens stud earrings Souviens stud earrings with green onyx, turquoise and white sapphires in sterling silver, $200; Gabriel New York

May Came Black and Red All Over necklaceBlack and Red All Over necklace with onyx bail in sterling silver, $240; May Came Home

 Sydney Evan Dance necklaceDance necklace with diamonds in 14k gold, $990; Sydney Evan

 Tous Eloise braceletEloise bracelet with colored gems in 18k gold vermeil and nylon cord, $269; Tous

 Alison Lou red Loucite hoopLoucite collection large jelly hoops in clear Lucite over red enamel and brass-plated 14k gold, $165; Alison Lou

 Jennie Kwon Sotto Voce sapphire ring

Sotto Voce ring with sapphire and diamonds in 14k gold, $510; Jennie Kwon

 

Top: Image by kennedyphotos via Pixabay

 

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Amy Elliott

JCK Contributing Editor

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