Will the Brooch Ever Truly Be a Jewelry Box Staple?

Brooches have been topping jewelry trend lists since men starting wearing them regularly on red carpets, and based on our observations, the year ahead should see more brooches than ever.

The brooch is one of the most versatile pieces of jewelry you could own—pin it on the lapel, hang it from a chain, fasten it to a hat, scarf, or even purse. You’ll find many iterations at the height of high jewelry, and for whatever reason it’s a category that some luxury jewelers seem eager to infuse with whimsy.

Why, then, does the brooch still feel more like a specialty item than jewelry box staple?

The prices on high jewelry brooches might explain why the average jewelry wearer doesn’t possess a wide range of them. Yet with the variety of brooch designs (and price points) out there, it shouldn’t be hard to attract consumers. Whether depicting animals, flowers, everyday objects, or even human faces, every brooch is a statement piece in one way or another.

Brooches were absolutely on fire during the JCK show in Las Vegas this spring, from Smiling Rocks‘ latest assortment to Parlé’s whimsical selection. A number of other brands have also recently debuted brooch collections, and brooches have been sent down the runways at fashion shows by the likes of Carolina Herrera, Tom Ford, and Tory Burch.

Perhaps the more brooches we see, the more likely they’ll be to rank among jewelry staples like diamond studs, strands of pearls, and hoops. As shoppers look for greater versatility in their jewelry purchases, the flexibility in styling brooches should boost their appeal.

Brooches have an incredible history, conceived as far back as the Bronze Age to serve the functional use of fastening, before becoming decorative items—often with symbolism—by the Middle Ages. That’s how we know them today.

I believe we are in for a wave of new brooches from our favorite jewelers, so perhaps the brooch as jewelry staple will finally come to pass. Many brands and designers, large and small, have already come out with wonderful brooches this year. Here are some of the latest.

We Are Seeds Poppy brooch in 18k yellow gold with 1.96 cts. t.w. tanzanite, 1.62 cts. t.w. pink sapphires, 0.084 ct. t.w. yellow sapphires, 0.982 ct. t.w. tsavorite, and 0.58 ct. t.w. diamonds, price on request; Harwell Godfrey

Globe brooch in 18k yellow gold with blue opal, malachite, and 2.41 cts. t.w. diamonds, $33,146; Never NoT

Dendera scorpion pin in 18k Fairmined yellow gold with 0.5 cts. t.w. old mine– cut diamonds, price on request; Darius Jewels

Les Petales brooch in 18k white gold with natural conch pearls, cultured akoya pearls, sapphires, and diamonds, price on request; Mikimoto

Large Bee brooch in 18k rose gold with brilliant-cut sapphires and diamonds, $16,000; Allison Quaid

Palm tree pin in 9k yellow gold with tsavorite and diamonds, $3,330; Yvonne Léon

Jellyfish brooch in platinum with chalcedony, sapphires, and diamonds, $44,300; Cicada

Key to the Moon brooch in 18k rose gold with 34.98 cts. t.w. cabochon moonstones and diamonds, price on request; Pomellato

Face brooch in sterling silver with baroque pearl, $926; KK Wearable Sculpture

Pin in 18k white gold with 1.13 ct. half-moon diamond and 1.54 cts. t.w. diamonds, $32,000; Rahaminov

Legacy Majestic Horse brooch/pendant in 18k yellow gold with 0.34 ct. t.w. black diamonds and 3.8 cts. t.w. diamonds, $18,500; Lionheart

Luna pin in yellow gold with diamonds, $1,850; Wyld Box

Top: One-off brooch in 18k pink and yellow gold with mother-of-pearl, rubies, and diamonds, price on request; Lito