JEWELRY TRENDS 2022:
Fun with Philippine pearls & colorful baubles to lift our mood
If there is any one thread linking the jewelry trends for 2022, it’s having fun with them. For designers, this meant making them bigger than usual, more colorful than usual, or just more, more, more of them piled on to boost our moods. With in-person shows making a comeback for the first time since the start of the pandemic, going for bold was no surprise.
For necklaces, chokers were seen on many runways, as were chunky chain links. Nature plays a big part, with earthy elements like turquoise, agate and seashells. Pearls are also huge this coming year, and not just the prim and proper type. This is good news for the Philippines and Filipino designers since the country’s national gem is our beautiful South Sea Pearl. Nostalgia for childhood days and getting in touch with our youthful side can be seen in candy-colored baubles in playful materials and shapes.
Earthy naturals
Natural materials like shells and sliced agate were ubiquitous on the runways. Philippine designers have always connected with Mother Earth through pieces using these gifts from nature.
Kit Silver has bold statements, like agate pendants hung on knotted silk fabric.
Bea Valdes is known for her quiet elegance, mixing semi-precious stones for necklaces that complement her streamlined bespoke dresses.
Joyce Makitalo designs pieces with a mystical vibe while Adante Leyesa is more flamboyant with necklaces blooming with mother-of-pearl flowers.
Crucial pearls
You can never go wrong with pearls since they always add polish to any look.
Since the Philippine South Sea Pearl is one of the most coveted gems because of its rich luster, Arao has made it the centerpiece of their sustainable and ethical line of jewelry with timeless designs.
Natalya Lagdameo incorporates Philippine heritage into her pearl pieces while Paul Syjuco has a contemporary take, mixing baroque pearls with diamonds.
Earrings and chokers for your close-up
With digital meetings now a way of life, bold earrings and statement chokers are quick ways to look dressed up.
Philippine designers like Bea Valdes and André Chang for Beatriz Accessories go artisanal with handcrafted pieces that are beautiful as well as precious.
Adante Leyesa’s necklace gives an instant upgrade with multicolored flowers.
Linked to dazzle
Chain-link jewelry are perennial classics but this year they call for a little more attention with chunky versions at Balmain and interwoven with leather at Hermès.
Natalya Lagdameo has chain earrings with pearls while Paul Syjuco has a sumptuous necklace of multistrand links in rose gold.
Pile them on
Nothing succeeds like excess, as Tom Ford showed with his gold chains and pearl necklaces piled on and Dior’s multiple rings adorning models’ fingers.
Earl Gariando has hand-carved carabao bone mixed with nautilus shell and brass repoussé necklaces.
Joyce Makitalo’s rings in semiprecious stones have a mix of insects and masks that go happily together.
Color me young
The colors and objects of childhood memories will make us feel the vibrance of youth this year.
Moschino’s chain necklaces had alphabet charms in candy colors, which Adante Leyesa also used for his ’60s earrings.
Local studios employ handcrafted techniques: Flutter Statement with their beaded birdhouse earrings and Strozzi with their enameled jeepney brooches.
