The Best Jewelry for Women Over 50 in 2024

Jenny Bird Florence Earrings in Gold ($138, jenny-bird.com), yellow gold, rose gold and stones like citrine, peridot, turquoise and topaz enhance skin with warm, peachy or golden undertones and flatter hair that’s red, honey, buttery blonde or streaked with sunny highlights. But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear both cool and warm jewelry. In 2024 there are no real rules..

Lacoste Crystal Pave Two-Tone “L” Bangle

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Macy's (2))

4. Mix metals with confidence

You may look better in yellow gold but what if there are a lot of great silver pieces in your drawer? What you want to avoid is wearing silver earrings with gold necklaces or vice versa. You can, though, wear silver earrings with a mixed stack off gold and silver bracelets or gold and silver rings. Whether you’re mixing bracelets, rings or necklaces select one metal as dominant rather than a 50-50 split. You can also add a piece that contains both cool and warm metals to unify the blend. For example, you might pair a multicolor ring to a stack of silver and gold ones, a two-tone bracelet like the Lacoste Crystal Pave Two-Tone “L” Bangle ($135, macys.com) or a gold and silver watch like the Coach Reese Women’s Watch 14504318 ($275, kay.com) to a bracelet mix. When shopping for a few new additions, consider a jewelry item that combines metals to enhance the wearability of pieces you have had for years.

Quince 14K Gold Gemstone Solo Mini Hoop in Ruby ($50, quince.com)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Quince)

5. Get more playful with light stylish earrings

It’s a fact: ears, like noses, continue to grow with age. If you’ve been a fan of heavy or dangly earrings for decades, longer lobes with stretched elongated piercings or even torn lobes are the norm. My advice? Get the holes sewn up by a cosmetic surgeon and repierced when healed a month later and then enjoy all your new earring options. Earrings at 50 have the task of illuminating your face. Consider their visibility. If you have short hair or wear longer hair pulled back or up, your earrings are always on show. If you have longer hair and wear it down, huskier or longer earrings that hint and gleam through strands are essential. Studs have reigned for years and are still a viable choice but there are a variety of small hoops, from delicate mini hoops to chunky huggie-hoops like the

Gorjana Crew Helium Huggies in Gold Plated ($58, gorjana.com) that are the big alternative trend. Huggies and their offshoot — huggies with drops — cling closely to the lobes and provide a classy and versatile look day or night. You can opt for a smooth minimalist look or amp up the decorative details with a chunkier shape and drops. Drops that dangle just below the lobes like the Zales 7.5-8.0mm Freshwater Cultured Pearl Huggie Hoop Drop Earrings in Sterling Silver with 14K Silver Plate ($160, zales.com) and thicker more substantial designs with a squat look offer more visibility as hair moves for those with ear covering bobs, lobes and long hair. Multiple piercings? Try mini hoops like the Quince 14K Gold Gemstone Solo Mini Hoop in Ruby ($50, quince.com) that complement the cool modern look of delicate layered chains at the neck or wrist.

6. Layer and stack like a pro

Stacking rings and bracelets and layering necklaces creates a more eye-catching effect whether you love delicate jewelry or bolder pieces. There are plenty of pre-stacked pieces that simplify the process and look terrific. Many women can DIY to renew and refresh the jewelry they already own or add new items to the mix. Here are some tricks to doing that with success.

Rings: Bands are easiest to wear together, especially slim bands (often labeled as “stackable” if you’re buying new) but variations in width, texture and style really personalize the look. One foolproof way is to sandwich a larger or more ornate ring like an oversized cocktail ring, an engagement ring or a signet ring between slimmer support rings. Watch the order and sizing since ring fit may differ depending on the finger selected and where the ring sits in the stack. Don’t go overboard with too many rings on several fingers; aim for a balanced effect on both hands. Leave some fingers bare (preferably pinky and thumb).

Necklaces: I call delicate chains “body jewelry” since women tend to wear them 24/7. Layering three refined chain link necklaces of varying lengths — 16, 18 and 20 inches — like the Jared Shy Creation Diamond Necklace 1/20 ct with Round 14K Yellow Gold SC55009638 ($480, jared.com) works for many women as an everyday look. The style can lean classic or boho depending on whether you’re aiming for a streamlined effect or a more decorative one that’s enhanced with stones, small pendants or charms. Varying the chain texture is one simple solution to style, like opting for a curb, rope, box, cable or paper-clip style. Or you might add a station necklace, which is a chain that’s separated at regular intervals with small stones or pearls, or a bar necklace. For a bolder layered look, combine a tennis necklace (like the iconic bracelet, it features a line of diamond or cubic zirconia stones) with one or two chunkier chains. Layer long necklaces of similar length by varying the texture and adding a pendant for weight so it sits in place. If you’re busty, be sure longer necklaces sit just above the top of the bust — usually a 22-inch length. V necklines and long necklaces make the most flattering partners.

Bracelets: These are simply fun to stack since you can combine so many types and change the mix quickly. One of the biggest trends is slim delicate bracelets in chain link, bangle and cuff styles — but don’t let that stop you from going bigger and bolder. Just watch the noise factor when stacking bangles that clink and clang at work and switch to three-quarter sleeves to display your creativity. For practicality’s sake the total bunch of bracelets like the ones in the Ross-Simons Sterling Silver Jewelry Set: Three Link Bracelets ($139, ross-simons.com) should take up no more than a third of your forearm, and it’s a good idea to do the bigger stack on your nondominant hand. Just like with rings, placing a favorite bracelet smack in the middle of the stack provides a focal point.

Pandora Sparkling Band Ring / gold plated

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Pandora (2))

7. Tips, tricks and terminology

Ever wish you had a jewelry expert on speed dial when browsing gold bracelets online or trying to decide between gold plated and gold filled? How about when your chains tangle in your jewelry box or a new ring discolors your finger? Here are a few more insider things to know:

Solid gold jewelry lasts a lifetime, is sweat, humidity, tarnish and waterproof but it is the most expensive. More affordable options are gold filled like the HeartMadeofGold 14K Gold Filled Diamond Ring ($30, etsy.com), gold plated like the

Pandora Sparkling Band Ring ($70, us.pandora.net) or gold vermeil jewelry which are all basically other metals coated with gold. Gold filled jewelry is bonded to a core metal such as brass; gold vermeil is sterling silver plated with gold and gold plated is gold over brass or copper.

Silver jewelry is either sterling or silver plated. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver with copper or zinc and is more durable than silver plated. (Look for a 925 stamp on the piece.) Silver plated has thin layer of silver over a base of copper or brass and is less expensive. While you can wear silver in the shower, hot tub or swimming, tarnish will always be a concern. Keep silver in a dry cool jewelry box or airtight bag — a piece of chalk alongside absorbs any moisture and avoid misting necklaces and bracelets with perfume, setting spray or sunscreen.

And finally, keep a few tricks up your sleeve. Trying to hook the clasp of a bracelet or necklace yourself? Use tape to stick it in place and then do the latch or clasp. Tangled fine chain necklace? Lay it on a dinner plate and sprinkle with baby powder to loosen the knots. When untangled, wash in lukewarm water, rinse and let dry. Prevent another mishap by threading one end through a straw and then fasten the clasp to store.