Top 5 Jewelry Brands to Wear This Summer
Five independent and emerging jewelry brands having a strong summer season — from sculptural gold to everyday demi-fine. What makes them worth wearing, who they suit, and what to look for.
Summer jewelry should do two things well: survive the heat without tarnishing, and look considered without requiring effort. These five brands understand that — and they are each doing something distinct enough to be worth your attention this season.
1. Alighieri
Aesthetic: Dark romanticism meets Italian Renaissance. Alighieri's pieces look like they were excavated from somewhere interesting — rough gold surfaces, irregular forms, references to Dante's Inferno throughout.
Why this summer: Their vermeil holds up in heat better than most, and the sculptural weight of their pieces reads beautifully against simple summer dressing — a linen dress, bare shoulders, one substantial earring. The brand has released a new collection this year that leans into organic, coral-like forms, which feels right for the season.
Pieces to look at: The Lost Lagoon earrings and the Medusa cuff. If you want a statement ring, the Terra range is worth exploring.
Price range: £80–£350 for most pieces. Chunky statement earrings typically £120–£180.
Who it suits: Someone whose aesthetic runs toward textured, editorial, and slightly unconventional. If you consistently gravitate toward things that look handmade or ancient, Alighieri is the brand.
2. Mejuri
Aesthetic: Clean, minimal, wearable. Mejuri built its reputation on everyday fine and demi-fine jewelry that looks more expensive than it costs — classic forms executed with precision.
Why this summer: Their gold vermeil chain necklaces are the defining summer accessory of the last three years, and for good reason: they layer well, they don't tangle easily, and they suit everything from swimwear to office dressing. Their Bold collection, which exaggerates their signature minimal forms into something slightly more assertive, is particularly relevant this season.
Pieces to look at: The Dôme Chain Necklace in 18k gold vermeil, the Bold Dome Stud earrings, and the Curb Chain Bracelet.
Price range: £45–£250. Most staples sit in the £60–£120 range.
Who it suits: The broadest appeal of any brand on this list. If you are building a demi-fine collection from scratch, Mejuri is the rational starting point — the pieces integrate with almost everything.
3. Missoma
Aesthetic: London-based, warm-toned, slightly more playful than Mejuri. Missoma works heavily in 18k gold vermeil and incorporates natural stones — moonstone, malachite, green onyx — as accent elements.
Why this summer: Their stone-set pieces are particularly strong this season. The green tones in their malachite and onyx pieces work unusually well with summer palettes — terracotta, white, olive — and the overall scale is right for warm weather: not too heavy, not too fine to read.
Pieces to look at: The Harris Reed collaboration for maximalist layering, the Lena stud earrings in green onyx, and the Savi ring collection for everyday stacking.
Price range: £55–£280. Stone-set pieces typically £80–£180.
Who it suits: Someone who wants warmth and a touch of colour in their jewelry without committing to full maximalism. The brand sits between minimal and statement — useful for people whose taste profile is still forming.
4. WWake
Aesthetic: New York-based fine jewelry that treats gemstones as texture rather than statement. WWake uses small diamonds, sapphires, and opals in clusters and organic arrangements — the effect is botanical, quiet, and precise.
Why this summer: WWake's pieces work on the principle that jewelry should look like it grew there, which is a particularly compelling idea in summer when everything else is stripped back. Their ring stacking approach — thin bands, micro-set stones — creates a combined effect that is more interesting than any single piece.
Pieces to look at: The Branch ring series, the Scatter stud earrings, and the Threader earrings for a long, minimal drop.
Price range: £200–£800, placing them at the upper end of demi-fine and into entry-level fine jewelry. The ring bands start around £200.
Who it suits: Someone who wants fine jewelry aesthetics without the logo associations of heritage houses. If your taste profile skews toward things that are quiet, precise, and slightly botanical, WWake is the answer.
5. Catbird
Aesthetic: Brooklyn-based, delicate, and feminine without being saccharine. Catbird specialises in small-scale fine and demi-fine pieces — thin stacking rings, tiny charms, threadlike chains — in a palette of yellow gold and occasional rose gold.
Why this summer: Catbird's scale is right for summer. When you are wearing less clothing, delicate jewelry reads more clearly — a tiny diamond charm on a threadlike chain becomes the focal point rather than disappearing. Their Threadbare chain collection and Tiny Treasure charm series are both currently in strong form.
Pieces to look at: The Twinkle Ring (a bestseller for good reason), the Mave Necklace as a base chain, and the Aries charm for personalisation.
Price range: £50–£350. Their ring starters begin around £50; fine jewelry pieces go up to £300.
Who it suits: Someone whose aesthetic is delicate and accumulated — the person who wears seven thin rings and two or three layered chains rather than one large piece. If you consistently nope bold, heavy pieces and like fine, quiet ones, Catbird is the most precise expression of that instinct.
If you want to discover more brands that match your personal taste — rather than following a general guide — join the Envie early access list. The taste engine learns from your swipes and surfaces the specific aesthetic corners that are yours, not just the brands everyone is wearing this season.