Around 10 years ago, the jewellery industry looked very different to today. Tradition and heritage ruled the market, and those after something that felt both special, yet still within the realms of reality, were left with a lack of options.
By the end of the last decade, a shift was underway, with a raft of new, almost entirely women-led jewellers building out a more modern category. These precious pieces are simultaneously special and wearable, offering women something to elevate the everyday.
Today, the market is booming: but one of the original names to know remains at the top. Mejuri is the brand largely responsible for the accessible-luxury jewellery boom, and its popularity shows no sign of slowing.
There’s one Mejuri collection we’ve likely all seen before, be it on a celebrity (Gigi Hadid and Sydney Sweeney are fans), a friend, or on a well-dressed influencer’s Instagram grid. Equal parts playful and polished, the Charlotte collection is inspired by the fluted silhouette of its namesake French dessert, with puffed-up silhouettes appearing across earrings, rings and bracelets.
Fans of the brand will already know the collection’s core pieces, which are crafted in yellow and white recycled solid gold, sterling silver and gold vermeil, all of which promise a long-lasting gleam. The Charlotte Hoops are a playful take on the classic gold hoop, while their Puffy sisters are a cute, pastry-shaped riff on the silhouette, making that sweet-toothed starting point clear to see.
The Charlotte rings are another brand bestseller, just big enough to make a statement on their own, but still delicate enough to be layered with other pieces: something the brand (and we) encourage. And don’t stop at a single metal either: stacking contrasting silver and gold pieces is the most modern way to make a statement with your jewellery now.
This month, three new additions join the Charlotte family. The Puffy Huggies are a smaller, sleeker take on the classic earrings designed to curve neatly around your lobe for a more discreet result. The Wide Hoops are your statement-maker: bigger and bolder than before, they’re ideal for elevating a T-shirt and jeans combination to evening-ready heights.
And for those eagerly anticipating a wedding, the Puffy Pearl Drop Earrings are perfect for a wedding guest, bridesmaid, or even the bride herself.
Speaking of special occasions, if you’re after something to seriously make an impact, consider the brand’s precious stone creations: there are rings encrusted with certified diamond pavé, and chunkier pieces studded with sharply faceted champagne quartz and amethyst.
The key to Mejuri’s success? It’s deceptively simple: founder Noura Sakkijha speaks to the woman that buys her own jewellery, through designs that reflect how we dress now (every piece will look as good with jeans as it will an evening dress), and standard-setting craftsmanship that far belies the accessible price tags. And now, 10 years since it first shook up the industry, it’s even got heritage to boot.
Cre: Harper’s bazaar