The Tin Cup Necklace Makes a 2020s Comeback

2025-12-09 Featured

If you bought or sold jewelry in the mid-1990s, you know the Tin Cup necklace. Named for the 1996 film starring Kevin Costner and Rene Russo, about a washed-up golf pro and the star golfer’s girlfriend he tries to win over, the accessory went on to have a life of its own in the jewelry industry, where it became utterly ubiquitous.

“Everyone copied Wendy Brigode, who designed the necklace for the film, from faux plastic and glass pearls to freshwater and cultured pearls,” author and jewelry historian Beth Bernstein tells JCK. “It was the biggest trend in 1996–97 and lasted for another two years.”

By the early 2000s, however, the Tin Cup’s popularity had waned. Eventually, the style became synonymous with outdated.

Miraki necklace

Diamond By Yard pearl necklace in 14k gold with diamonds and pearls, $1,370; Miraki Jewels

Well, lo and behold, the Tin Cup necklace—basically a simple station necklace featuring pearls on a chain—is back along with other 1990s trends that have captured the hearts and minds of Gen Z. A symbol of the era’s analog simplicity, the style has struck a chord with buyers, according to retailers, who cite its affordability as another factor driving sales.

Jade Ruzzo pearl necklace

Gilda stick chain necklace in 18k yellow gold with pearls, $5,200; Jade Ruzzo

Of course, more seasoned buyers nostalgic for the ’90s may also find themselves craving a Tin Cup redux, so we’ve curated a handful of new examples that capture the station necklace spirit without sacrificing their luxe pedigrees.

Some, like the Diamond By Yard pearl necklace by Miraki Jewels, are longer than the collar-length style that Russo sported in the film, while others have chunkier, yellow gold links (Tanya Farah, we’re looking at you!), but all recall the style that first seduced so many of today’s pearl lovers, proving that even once-maligned styles can have a second swing at the spotlight.

Martha Calvo Andre pearl necklace