Jewels with childhood references are showing up everywhere right now, with a strong emphasis on gems you would wear while roaming the schoolyard before the first bell or the hallways between periods. It’s not just contemporary brands; even fine jewelers are looking to the past to create pieces with references to a carefree adolescence. 

Rather than focusing on playground cool jewels, we’re highlighting creations with more sophisticated academic and social references to the school year (and year-round). This is achieved in lush materials, including gold, diamonds, sapphires, mother-of-pearl, and enamel in autumnal blue, burgundy, and green tones. 

Updated classics are the most obvious at achieving this trend, like Kathryn Bentley’s enamel locket for hiding a picture of your secret crush, Marie Laure Chamorel’s lush version of a friendship bracelet (bonus, it’s already made for you) and Jonne Amaya’s timeless name-plate necklace. Brent Neale’s bubble letter studs are a welcome addition to wearing one’s initials and include the full alphabet, while Marla Aaron’s ampersand lock is a lovely addition to any neck mess. 

Then, there are a little more abstract pieces that include Silvia Furmanovich’s hand painted animal motif earrings, one of which is a unicorn that looks oh-so familiar to anyone who has actually cracked open a dictionary (a real book, not a website!). Yvonne Léon’s ring watch is an innovative switch for telling time from a basic watch and will be needed once your professors announce no phones are allowed. Three Stories door lock pendant references an Alexander Graham Bell quote “When one door closes, another opens,” an ideal phrase for starting anew each year. 

Take a look at these luxe versions whether you’re of school age or just want to go down memory lane.