Is Mixing Metals The Jewellery Trend Of The Year?

A few years ago, it was fairly common (even preferred) to match accessories according to the colour of the metal. Anyone who wanted to change things up would most switch to the occasional, rose gold, thanks to the ‘clean-girl look’ that took over the Internet in a massive way back in 2022. The aesthetic highlighted wearing contemporary, statement jewellery, mostly in gold tones (Think of when Hailey Bieber rocked beautiful gold jewellery while also giving us major clean-girl goals at the Saint Laurent Spring 2024 runway show in Paris).

At the same time, silver-toned jewellery began making a comeback as the cool, understated, nonchalant hue it has always been. In 2023, Gigi Hadid wore a stunning Messika necklace for the Cannes Film Festival. An old clip of Kendall Jenner saying she prefers “silver when it’s wrapped in diamonds,” over everything else reemerged, hammering home the statement that silver is a formidable opponent to gold, and the conversation around mixing metals came to the forefront again.

In the 80s, combining silver-hued and gold-hued jewellery was a major trend. Even high-end, luxury brands such as SeidenGang and Marina B decided to combine platinum, white gold and other silver-toned metals with gold for their pieces.

Now if you want to style mixed metals, for Indian wear, during the upcoming wedding season, it seems going for oxidised, artistic, chunky pieces that have turquoise notes or precious stones encrusted in them along with other metals is the way to go. Delhi-based stylist Vikram Seth also tells us that when mixing metals for Indian wear, one can choose not only to mix silver-toned or gold-toned jewellery but also to mix contrasting textures and aesthetics, and to "Pair (the look) with fine silks such as Banarasi saris so as not to overdo your outfit - Think Raw Mango, Ekaya Banaras and Delhi Vintage Co.” On the other hand, while styling mixed metals with a Western outfit, he says “Consider going with oversized, crisp, white shirts and wide-leg, dress pants.”

Neha Maggo, stylist and art director who has worked with names such as Hublot, Mana Perfumery, Bloomingdales, and Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, is also a big fan of the trend “Mixing metal jewellery is a fascinating way to add versatility to your look. Start with the dominant metal or consider the undertones of your outfit when choosing which metal to mix. My favourite technique is layering, which I believe is one of the best ways to style and mix jewellery.” Other than this, Neha believes this trend is great for people who love to experiment.” “I love how this trend encourages experimentation … It’s almost like painting with different shades; each metal adds its own character but together they create something truly unique.”

Manifest’s senior stylist Palak Valecha says she’s been mixing and matching metals forever. “It was considered a fashion faux pas to mix gold and silver. But I’ve always worn them together, because why not? I wear a stack of bracelets every day, and it’s a mix of both gold and silver.”

With the trend’s reprisal, we’ve been seeing influencers such as Isabelle Allain and Amaani Alikhan and creatives mixing metals while accessorising So, it seems the mixed metal accessorising is the new It-girl technique worth knowing about and trying!

Celebrities such as Hailey Beiber, Sofia Grainge, Olivia Rodrigo and Ashley Graham were spotted wearing silver-toned and gold-toned jewellery together.

In fact, New York-based based jewellery label David Yurman made it even more apparent when, back in September 2023, it made Sofia Grainge their global ambassador. The campaign consisted of stunning photographs of Sofia wearing white gold as well as gold cable bangles and earrings by the label.

How can you adopt the mixed metals jewellery trend?

You can consider mixing and balancing a chunky silver necklace with a slightly daintier gold necklace. Or perhaps, if you sport double ear piercings, then consider wearing both gold and silver earrings. So, also try to mix and match contrastingly weighted jewellery! Just as Neha Maggo also advises, “Stack bracelets or rings in a different metal to create a cohesive yet eclectic look. The trick is to contrast the texture and thickness of the pieces so they complement each other without competing.”

Whereas, Palak Valecha delves into how one can stack watches and bracelets to create the look, “Maybe stack a watch with lots of bracelets, wherein the watch is one metal and all the bracelets are a different metal. Then there’s always the option of going for pre-mixed jewellery.”

Vikram Seth advises creating an offbeat look with this trend, he says “This is a very eclectic style, there are a lot of juxtapositions, so in terms of ethnic wear, you can pair it with heritage silks and it can result in a bohemian look.”

How to shop to wear the trend

Wear A Dual-Tone Watch

Stack Mixed Metal Bracelets

Two-Tone Earrings

What About Your Rings?