my top jewelry pop culture moments of 2025

plus, trend observations for 2026.

Today’s free newsletter is sponsored by Catbird. They were my entry point to solid 14K gold foundational jewelry pieces in my mid 20s, and I still wear my Festoon chain almost daily. Their biggest sale of the season is running now until December 1st, with nearly everything at 20% off (or more!).

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As I sat down and reminisced about my favorite jewelry moments in pop culture this year, one theme stuck with me: metals and stones keep us connected to the tactile world.

When I’m doomscrolling and can feel my eyes turning mushy, fidgeting with the gold charm on my neck snaps me out of my screen-induced hypnosis for a moment. Before going to sleep, I often use the ball on the end of my silver hairpin as an acupressure tool, pressing the cool metal against my temples and clogged sinuses. When I compliment a friend’s cocktail ring, she enthusiastically lets me try it on and we coo over the baubly cabochon gem together like a pair of magpies.

Jewelry is a universal language—a body language, an embodied language. For the entirety of human history, we have always sought out shiny objects to transform into wearable talismans. Perhaps that’s why jewelry makes for the best stories—moments that reverberate on such a primal level that they become pop culture touchpoints.

Below, my top jewelry pop culture moments of 2025!

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1). Louvre Crown Jewels Heist

Photo Credit: the Louvre.

The entire world was charmed by the theft of crown jewels at the Louvre. This was because the crime had an inherent whimsicality—its aim so old fashioned, its methods so analog. I mean, they used SAWS and a FREIGHT LIFT! This wasn’t the work of some invisible dark web hacker. And it’s an astounding feat that in our age of constant technological surveillance, these guys were able to pull it off in 10 minutes.

I’m not up to date on the latest developments on whether they caught the thieves, but the story unfolded in such a cinematic way and I’m seated for the movie adaptation down the line.

This June, I interviewed attendees at JCK (think of it as Paris Fashion Week for the jewelry biz) and the #1 trend takeaway was that colorful gems are on the rise for 2026.

Colorful gem styles inspired by the Louvre heist:

• A heart-shaped birthstone charm that I personally love in emerald.

• A tourmaline and peridot ring in my favorite color combo.

• Oh, and a tiny gold key charm that represents the strength of the Louvre’s security system (password: louvre).

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2). Elizabeth’s Blue Scarab Necklace in Frankenstein

In Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein (2025), I audibly gasped when Elizabeth (played by Mia Goth) is introduced onscreen. Her rich peacock blue dress was so vivid against the film’s moody dark background. She wore a face-framing blue feather headpiece—and on her neck, a wondrously glittery lapis beetle choker necklace.

Photo Credit: Netflix

If want to read a detailed breakdown of Elizabeth’s costumes, read this interview with costume designer Kate Hawley by Tara Maria Gonzalez.

Blue-tinged styles fit for a dark fairytale:

• This sapphire signet ring that would play well in a gold stack.

• A moonstone braided charm reminds me of Elizabeth in her long pale blue nightgown.

• More moonstone—this puffy pendant is so enchanting.

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3). Mayor Mamdani’s Silver Rings

Photo Credit: @nytstyle Instagram

Here on the Molehill, we recognize fashion as a reflection of our sociopolitical climate—and I’m excited about what the Mamdani era will bring, both politically and sartorially. This article broke down the story behind the signature silver rings he wore on the campaign trail. One is a simple wedding band, one is an heirloom from his grandfather, and one is a silver ring from his wife, artist Rama Duwaji.

I love that Rama is a well-documented gold girl, and he’s a silver guy <3

Styles to start with if you’re building a silver collection:

• Doesn’t get more classic or versatile than this tomboy ring.

• An engraved initial signet is a solid gift idea for mascs/men.

• This puffy dome shape ring plays well with other organic forms.

• And I have to shoutout this New York coffee cup charm because it feels very Mamdani-coded.

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4). Belly’s Engagement Ring

Photo Credit: Prime Video

The Summer I Turned Pretty (TSITP) was the TV show of summer 2025. The final season fed us some epic pop culture moments (I wrote about my favorites here and here). Of course, everyone remembers the scene when Belly defiantly shows her near-microscopic engagement ring to Laurel as her spray tanned brother-husbands gawk silently from the sidelines. Belly’s best friend Taylor compares it to a “sliver of tinfoil.”

The *delicateness* of the ring became a bona fide meme, as fans shared their reactions online. The prevailing sentiment was that the ring was too small and not expensive enough by mainstream standards, and therefore a reflection that Jeremiah was not The One for Belly. The discourse got so passionate that Jenny Han had to step in and explain why the ring made sense for Belly’s simple sensibilities.

Her ring is actually made by Catbird!

• It’s the diamond fizz ring, and engagement ring or not, I think its daintiness pairs best stacked with a chunky piece!

• But if you’ll indulge my TSITP fanfic brain, I love the idea of Conrad gifting her this gold love letter charm for Christmas when he writes to her in Paris.

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5). Ellen’s Locket in Nosferatu

Photo Credit: Aidan Monaghan

Ok, Nosferatu technically came out at the very end of 2024, but I’m including it because it set the tone for a string of Gothic/Romantic aesthetics that permeated 2025. Ellen (played by Lily-Rose Depp) wears a silver heart-shaped locket in the film. In a memorable scene, she cuts a lock of her hair and tucks it inside the locket, as a token of devotion for her husband Thomas as he embarks on the perilous journey to Count Orlock’s castle. The content of the story imbues the locket with a sort of tragic, cursed-love energy that aligns with an early 19th century Romantic view of nature.

Back when the film came out, I wrote:

I am left wondering if Nosferatu is indicative of a resurgence of Romantic values for modern times, as technology tightens its firm grasp on every part of our lives. The Met Museum is running a Caspar David Friedrich exhibition this Spring, and there’s talk of more Gothic movie adaptations on the way (Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights).

I would add Rosalía’s goth-pop Berghain music video to that list, which features a gold heart-shaped locket. Lockets evoke a sense of drama because they function as devices of concealment.

Photo Credit: Berghain Official Video

With the anticipation around Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights coming out in early 2026, I believe Gothic and Romantic influences will continue to trickle into fashion and jewelry. Lockets have always been a popular style, but I see them evolving in experimental ways. For example: bag charm lockets, lockets with a locket, layered lockets, wearable tech lockets. Who knows!

Classic lockets to anchor your charm jumbles:

• The Dollhouse gold heart locket has just the right amount of puffiness to it.

• I have the Dollhouse gold oval locket and wear it as a “palette cleanser” pendant when I want to wear the most pared-down chain.

• The Dollhouse oval locket in silver comes in a “grand” size, which might be enough space for a tuft of my poodle’s fur.

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You can shop the entire Catbird sale here.

I would love to read about your favorite jewelry pop culture moments this year, big or small. Drop a comment and I’ll select 10 people at random in a week to gift a free month’s subscription. (If you’re already a paid reader, I’ll extend your subscription by a month!).

xo viv

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Thanks for being here. You can find me on IG and TT. My wardrobe pieces and recs are saved here—unless it’s vintage, of course ;) I may earn a small commission from purchases made through affiliate links.