Sometimes, luxury seems exactly as surface-level as we think it is: gold necklaces, diamond rings, and flashy timepieces. These things are, maybe more than anything else, the ultimate visual representations of living well. We wear them for aesthetic reasons, sure, but they’re often intensely functional parts of our lives—and I’m not just talking about the watches here. Maybe we’re not always conscious of this fact, but jewelry is functional luxury in the same way any piece of fashion is: It’s a means of speaking to your worth without actually saying anything—and oftentimes, accessories speak the loudest. If luxury is beauty, these pieces are the best symbols of the good life.
Diamonds Direct
This light-yellow, pear-shaped 3.71-carat diamond, accented by round brilliant-cut diamonds weighing 7.80 carats in total, adorns a 14K gold necklace that needs no other dressing-up.
A bold timepiece that simply cannot go unnoticed, the 44-millimeter Hublot Big Bang boasts Hublot’s characteristic rubber and leather sports watch bracelet for extreme comfort and versatility—no amount of water is going to hurt this thing—and 18-karat red gold to boot.
diamondsdirect.com
David’s LTD
This shiny timepiece from Detroit’s Shinola—the definition of affordable luxury in wristwear—is a 42-millimeter Bedrock chronograph in stainless steel, sporting an eye-catching silver dial with midnight blue sub-dials.
This 16” Riviera diamond necklace in white gold, by William Levine, features 105 bezel-set, full-cut diamonds with a total weight of 8.07 carats. It’s the kind of beautifully simple piece that ties together any understated ensemble.
davidsltd.com
Windsor Jewelers
Tudor Black Bay Bronze 43mm Watch – A timepiece that’s just noticeable enough, this Tudor Black Bay 43-millimeter watch uses bronze and a vintage leather strap to be boldly classic, but not too flashy: Business meeting or safari, it won’t look out of place.
This Ladies’ Jaeger-LeCoultre Rendezvous timepiece, rendered in glorious stainless steel, has a 0.69-carat diamond bezel—the better to complement additional diamonds, like this 4.03-carat, three-stone Forevermark ring.
windsor-jewelers.com
Allen’s Jewelers
This stunning Rubelite and diamond ring is 18-karat white gold with a 4.33-carat Rubelite tourmaline and 1.76 carat diamonds. This one is a “special occasion” ring to be certain, the type of jewelry meant to be worn when you need a little extra boost.
This eye-catching piece, the “Natural Fancy Yellow Diamond” ring, is 18-karat gold with a 1.76 carat oval center diamond. Styled to look old-school classic, it manages to also be eye-catchingly luxe for the modern wearer. (The out of focus bangle is an 18-karat gold feather design with diamonds).
These thin, stackable bracelets are 18-karat yellow gold and diamond. They can be worn dressed up or dressed down, perfect for everyday fashion or to offset a nighttime cocktail dress.
This 18-karat yellow gold diamond ring, set with 2.34-carat diamonds, is a statement piece: Chunky and richly textured, the ring alone can make an outfit.
allensfinejewelry.com
Donald Haack
The yellow gold Vermeil Cuff, at 40-millimeters wide with .33-carat diamonds and .26-carat black diamonds, has a vintage flair that’s timeless.
This Fire Opal Pendant, at 28.48-carats with a brushed 18-karat yellow gold bail and diamond accents is seen here on an 18-inch, 18-karat yellow gold chain. This is a necklace for a bold wearer: It’s unique, stunning, and finely-crafted.
Elizabeth Bruns, Inc.
This stylish stunner of an 18-karat yellow gold, diamond, and turquoise ring was made in Italy, and evokes summertime seaside fashion in the most luxurious sense possible.
As a statement piece in itself, this 18-karat gold and diamond Italian cuff bracelet pairs surprisingly well with other bangles.
The Monica Rich Kosann “Compass” Pendant is seen paired here with the Temple St. Clair “Vine” amulet (bottom). Both have become highly sought-after styles, notable for their charmingly iconic styles that manage to look just as good with evening wear as they do against a daytime button-down shirt.
elizabethbruns.com