Gold. Just the word conjures up great images of shimmering rings or earrings and magnificent necklaces or bracelets. Gold jewelry dates back thousands of years – to the B.C. era, when Pharaohs and other royalty of ancient civilizations bedecked themselves with this precious metal. While styles of have changed, gold is still the precious metal of choice for today’s fashion-forward ladies. In fact, gold is so beloved in the jewelry world that the World Gold Council has designated May as Gold Month to further celebrate this noble metal and its fashioning into wearable works of art. Today, top designers and jewelry brands carefully craft gold jewelry into alluring statements that are effortless to wear. Here we bring six gold jewelry trends that are not only everlasting, but also timeless and make wearing gold jewelry effortless.

Mixing Colors

Gold, in its naturally occurring state, is generally yellow in color. However, centuries ago, metal smiths learned how to mix gold with other alloys in order to achieve a stronger gold or a special hue. Rose or pink gold, for instance, is gold mixed with copper. Softer hued pink gold jewelry is often referred to as 3N or 4N, while the dark deeper rose colors are usually 5N rose gold – referring to the amount of copper in the mixture. White gold is created using nickel, and a host of designers have even developed their own colors of gold ranging from honey to gray, green, brown and even red.

Decades ago, a well-dressed woman didn’t mix the colors of gold she wore. If she donned a yellow necklace, yellow was the color. Today, however, mixing different colors of gold is acceptable. While rose gold is currently the preferred gold color, one need not worry about wearing a pink gold necklace and a yellow gold ring. In fact, currently coming back into vogue by many of the big brands, including Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and Cartier, is a mixing of bi- and tri-color metals in rings, bracelets, and necklaces. From coil bracelets to interwoven chokers, this concept of multi-colors makes the mixing of any colors of gold absolutely effortless.

Pairing Finishes

From matte to hand-blasted, hand-hammered, or high-polished finishes, the diversity in appearance of gold jewelry brings depth to a gold-toned jewelry ensemble. Most finishes other than polished and matte are done by hand and are delicate processes. Hand-hammering, for instance, requires a goldsmith to hammer the individual pieces of gold one by one before assembling the final necklace, earrings or bracelet. The same is true when designers individually etch finishes into their gold to add dimension and texture. Here again, it is okay to mix finishes. One can pair a hand-hammered necklace, for instance, easily with a high-polished ring or bracelet.

Going Round

While gold chains will never go out of style, they can take a backseat to softer, less linear shapes, and round is definitely timelessly easy to wear. Hoop earrings in all sizes and shapes, especially in rose gold, are a staple item in any wardrobe and will never go out of fashion. Similarly, grabbing a choker made of round links or dangling earrings made of round gold orbs in graduated sizes from the lobe to the bottom will make you look and feel right in style. Today and always. Round shapes symbolize eternity. The circle is universally recognized as representing a whole, infinity, and perfection. For this reason, bangle bracelets offer a sense of totality – and can be worn with casual ease, as well as on special occasions.

Because of the versatility of the round shape, many of today’s top brands and designers continue to re-interpret the circle – bringing different finishes, sizes and looks together in one piece. A mix of circles creates a sense of harmony or balance. Additionally, curved jewelry and spiral shapes are an extension of the circle and translate nicely into cuff bracelets or dangle earrings. It is not unusual, either, to see round shapes mixed with other geometric details for a final piece that has a truly artistic feel.

Geometric Diversity

Similarly, other geometric shapes have their own statements to make. Square, rectangular, octagon and other shapes are sometimes intermingled with the beloved circle for a well-rounded (pardon the pun) appeal. However, more often than not, designers and brands easily juxtapose different hard-edged shapes to create a sense of liveliness and exuberance. Juxtaposing different shapes in a piece of jewelry can endow it with a sense of power so that it exudes a strong personality and makes a special statement about its wearer. Chopard’s Ice Cube jewelry – an iconic collection that has withstood the test of time – is a grand example of geometric beauty. Don’t be fooled, though. Geometric shapes are not just squares, rectangles and triangles. Today’s designers are adept at reinterpreting the cross, stars, and even other multi-sided shapes.

Nature Inspired

Easily one of the most important gold jewelry trends on the market today harkens back to nature. Only in nature is beauty individually and uniquely expressed, and so many designers use nature as their muse. For some, flowers, vines, leaves and twigs are the inspiration; while for others, the creatures that roam the Earth, seas, and air are the stimulus for innovation.

Because gold is so malleable, designers are able to achieve sculptural beauty and almost surreal likenesses that emulate nature with a sensual appeal. Easily one of the most heart-grabbing iconic jewelry collections comes in the form of Cartier’s Panthere. The brand’s incredible renditions of the wild cat in motion, or sitting patiently or mysteriously on a ring, a brooch or a necklace have captured hearts around the world. The same is true with so many floral jewelry designs whose free-flowing asymmetrical nature offers a glorious respite from the fast-paced world and reminds us with every glance that life offers inexhaustible inspiration.

Gold and Stones

Adding diamonds and gemstones to gold is a natural extension of the art of creating and wearing jewelry. From a sprinkling of color to a shimmer of diamonds or a full-on display of gemstones or diamonds – color and sparkle work beautifully and easily transition from day to night.

Whether your style is a choker or a long necklace, a cuff a bangle or a link bracelet – gold is the most wearable metal on Earth. Whether you select long earrings that sway with every move you make, or button earrings that draw someone’s attention to your cheekbones, wearing gold should not be complicated.