It’s officially summertime, and just as heat indexes hit their highest notes, so too do warm weather-inspired jewelry trends. Turquoise is an obvious one, as are seashells, but there’s more to summer style than these two looks.

Color Merchants / Brevani

Inventive jewelry makers are putting other sea motifs and bright, happy colored gemstones front and center in new designs. Think fish, pearls, and many a simple gem-set pendant on cord, while charms and body chains are other ways to stay stylish in the heat. Sleek silver and beaded necklaces are also being touted by fashion magazines as go-to looks for summer. And while all these ideas are good ones, jewelry insiders have some less-obvious ways to appropriately accessorize in the hottest season.

Consider one of the biggest jewelry trends of the moment: ombré. It was everywhere at the recently held Las Vegas jewelry trade fairs, evident in beaded strands, multicolor single gems, and even in pearls. It’s a look that ALTR offers in lab-grown diamond and Lali Jewels offers in precious-colored stones—from blue topaz to multi-colors of sapphire.

“Ombré is very popular,” notes Adam Bassalali, co-founder and vice president of Lali Jewels. “The play of colors is very summery.”

Meanwhile, there is no consensus among collectors about metal color; people love every shade for different reasons. Sterling silver inspires cool thoughts and allows for designers to craft larger pieces due to its less-costly nature. Yellow gold has a devout fan base for the sun-kissed glow it provides, and even rose gold has its devotees despite the oft-shared opinion that it’s not complementary to every skin tone.

       Lali Jewels

Bassalali sees a sprinkling of rose gold interest in the summer months, particularly set in pieces with morganite. Amish Shah of ALTR recognizes rose gold–loving consumers as a special breed of their own.

“Summer consumers with a sense of style love rose gold,” he says. “Rose gold is a language for a consumer that defines themselves.”

Perhaps the most direct way to adorn oneself in a summer-loving jewel is through a motif or personalized piece. Shah offers lotus petals, and Bassalali has plenty of what he calls summer-minded “novelty” numbers in his line. Among them? Turtles, dolphins, whale tales, and other symbols that “remind me of water and summer fun,” he says.

Many makers will have at least a smattering of summer-inspired styles, but John Lavelle’s inventory may be among the most comprehensive simply because of the nature of his business: charms. Lavelle is the marketing director for Rembrandt Charms, which has a symbol for nearly every desired message or statement. And given the summer months are all about “sunshine, travel, and making memories,” he says, his top-selling motifs reflect those directives.

Rembrandt Charms

Themes that champion sports and activities, travel, nature, initials, and other sentimental moments do well. Volleyballs, soccer balls, pickleball rackets, cruise ships, passports, anchor charms, hummingbirds, dragonflies, butterflies, sunflowers—the list of looks is nearly endless!

“It’s about the moments,” observes Lavelle. “Summer is memory-making season. Whether it’s a family vacation, a graduation, a sunny wedding, beach trip, summer romance, spontaneous road trip, or a new favorite sport, people love capturing those moments with charms. Charm jewelry and summer go hand in hand—both are all about adventure, self-expression, and making memories. Charms tell your story, and summer is the season when the best stories are made.”