You are currently viewing 60s Jewelry : The Complete Guide to Trends and What They Mean

60s Jewelry : The Complete Guide to Trends and What They Mean

Back in the day, the style was about making sure you knew who the most famous person of the moment was and how best to replicate their look without being too obvious. Nowadays, style is much more personal and customizable, though some trends still emerge in pop culture and affect style. 

People used to copy what the stars wore in their latest films, forgetting to make it their own. Today, trends are influenced by social media and celebrities but also reflect what people want to wear based on current society. That’s why style is ever evolving. 

The 60s jewelry were a huge catalyst for pop trends, with new styles emerging yearly. It was a time of peace and prosperity and a famous cultural era, making it pretty easy to maintain trends throughout the decade. But some trends in 60s jewelry are timeless, making them still relevant today. In this post, you will learn about these timeless trends concerning the past and discover what they mean for the future of fashion and pop culture today.

Mixed Metals 

Mixed Metal Earrings

In the 60s, fashion was a time of experimentation and innovation. One of the biggest trends was mixing metals and jewelry in various ways. In most cases, it was done when one type of metal was more expensive than another. 

It meant that people combined inexpensive metals like pewter with more expensive ones like silver and gold to create pieces that were higher quality than typical costume pieces but could still be produced in bulk which made them more affordable. 

Today, this trend is still alive and well. You can try it by mixing sterling silver, gold, and copper in a bracelet or piece of jewelry. Matching it with a different colored pendant is even better. 

For example, try a silver pendant with a copper chain and beads. You can also try mixing semi-precious stones in different colors to create stunning set combinations like yellow sapphire, red ruby, and gold heart pendants. You have so many ideas to experiment with mixed metals that it’s difficult to choose just one!

Beaded Bracelets

Beaded Bracelets

The 60s jewelry trend still alive in our society today is all about bead necklaces. Beaded bracelets didn’t exist then, making combining different beads from different cultures and periods easy. 

Today you can still incorporate these beads more into your fashion jewelry than ever by wearing them on a bracelet around your wrist. You can opt for many different bead sizes, shapes, and styles for a unique look. 

It meant that people combined inexpensive metals like pewter with more expensive ones like silver and gold to create pieces that were higher quality than typical costume pieces but could still be produced in bulk which made them more affordable.

Long Chain Necklaces

long chain necklace

It was one of the popular trends back in the 60s jewelry, especially among Hollywood stars and famous women who wanted to make a statement. When someone wore a long chain necklace, it was easily seen, making it an effective way to show off different designer styles. 

Today, long chain necklaces are still a popular trend in fashion jewelry, and with the right accessories, you can make them modern. Try wearing a statement pendant to complement your necklace, like a heart-shaped locket, or something fun like a butterfly pendant. A long chain necklace is one of those trends that can be interpreted in many different ways so that you can have lots of fun with it today!

Pastel Pearls

pastel pearl necklace

Another common 60s jewelry trend was the use of pastel-colored pearls. They were trendy among Hollywood stars and women who wanted to make a statement in high society. They are still a popular trend among fashion jewelry but with a fresh twist. Most designers have taken the idea and mixed pearl colors to create different pastel variations like pink, baby blue, mint green, and baby yellow. 

It makes the trend more modern today than ever for anyone wanting to make a statement with their jewelry collection. To create your statement, you can use a long chain necklace with a pendant like a butterfly or a flower to coordinate. You can go modern by mixing different colors of pearls or something more classic with just pink, baby blue, and mint green.

Geometric Shapes

geometric shapes jewellery

Another 60s jewelry trend that has a strong presence in fashion today is the idea of geometric shapes for jewelry. The shapes typically had a lot of straight lines and squares, making them appear modern and trendy in the late 20th century. 

The trend has continued into the 21st century, where many fashion jewelry pieces are designed with simple geometric shapes and clean straight lines instead of patterns to create more simplistic yet elegant designs. 


People used to copy what the stars wore in their latest films, forgetting to make it their own. Today, trends are influenced by social media and celebrities but also reflect what people want to wear based on current society. That’s why style is ever evolving.


The 60s trend included geometric shapes into the styling and actual pieces. Today you can take a hint from this fashion jewelry trend and use clean designs with geometric shapes to make your style more modern. You can create a statement by wearing multiple pieces together in different colors or one piece with a bold color like red.

Monochromatic Madness

monochromatic madness jewelry

When it comes to fashion, monochromatic trends have been viral over the past couple of years. The 60s jewelry was a time when people were on the lookout for new and exciting trends. It meant that it was a time of innovation and mix-matching by combining different clothing styles in different ways to create modern looks. 

This trend has continued into today’s fashion jewelry, where you can choose from various jewelry pieces in one color or style to make your outfit more extravagant. Use pieces that go together, like a necklace and bracelet, or try mixing and matching different jewelry styles in one color. Put on a bold-colored pendant with a necklace that matches. You can mix and match different colored stones to create stunning combinations.

Oversized Plastics

oversized plastics jewelry

With the popularity of the 60s trend comes the idea of oversized plastic jewelry. It was about having fun with your fashion jewelry collection, and you can use this trend to create a luxurious look. The big oversized pieces were associated with celebrities and were often worn by women who were part of Hollywood’s elite.

 These days, you can also incorporate oversized materials into your everyday fashion jewelry. You can combine different plastics or even go for a mixed color palette to create something that looks colorful and stylish instead of just plain. Try wearing a large glass pendant with a black backdrop to create a stunning look, or you can use neon colors with black to make your pieces pop more.

Floral Themes

This trend was popular among high society, specifically Hollywood stars, in the late 1960s and 1970s. Flowers were the preferred choice for this look, often worn as brooch accessories. 

Today, you can still follow this trend with a more modern twist. You have to choose your favorite piece of fashion jewelry with a flower attached to it, and you are ready to go. You can choose pieces made of real flowers or something more modern, like silk flowers embellished onto the surface of your jewelry piece. 

For a more fresh and modern look, you can choose printed pieces with flowers or holographic designs. You can simplify this 60s jewelry design with a basic design and mix or match other accessories to create a more colorful look.

Drop Earrings

drop earrings

This 60s jewelry style is a bit more traditional than the rest of the trends on this list. Drop earrings were trendy in high society, typically worn by women who wanted to make a statement. They are not just limited to jewelry; even clothing styles such as dresses had drop earrings to make them more extravagant. 

Today, you can still follow the trend with a more modern twist and create your statement with drop earrings. In Africa, many people wear drop earrings and wear them with African clothing. If you want to be more modern than traditional, you can mix and match different types of materials like gold, silver, or even something more colorful like crystal beads.


The 60s jewelry were a huge catalyst for pop trends, with new styles emerging yearly. It was a time of peace and prosperity and a famous cultural era, making it pretty easy to maintain trends throughout the decade. But some trends in 60s jewelry are timeless, making them still relevant today.


Large Cocktail Rings

In the 60s, cocktail rings were trendy, and they were a statement piece that said a lot about the fashion taste of the person wearing them. These rings were typically worn with cocktail dresses to make them more extravagant. You can choose to follow this trend if you are feeling daring, or you can add a modern twist to it and change the size of your ring or pendant. 

You can also choose to mix different materials like pearls, rhinestones, and crystals together to create your style. You can try this 60s jewelry trend out at different times of the day to keep your look interesting. Try wearing a cocktail ring as your accessory when wearing a casual outfit like jeans and a t-shirt, or wear a more formal dress with a cocktail ring for an even more bold and extravagant statement.

Chunky Chain Necklaces 

Chunky Chain Necklaces

This trend was prevalent during the 60s, using chain links instead of delicate chain beads. It was all about making a statement with your jewelry, and it was commonly worn by celebrities who wanted their look to be more glamorous. You can still use this trend today and create a bold yet elegant look by using chunky chains from the jewelry store to create something unique. If you want to stay more traditional, you can opt for something simpler, like a significant drop necklace or a small chunky pendant. The 60s jewelry trend is all about making a statement, and this is just one of the ways that you can do it.

Chokers

This trend was inspired by the high society of Hollywood actresses who wore these pieces in the middle of the 1960s. They were worn as accessories to complete a look, and every piece was unique. Today, you can still use this trend with a more modern twist and make your statement. 

To start, you can choose a pendant or small ring that suits your style best and make it more extravagant by adding other bold colors or even another piece of 60s jewelry, such as a key chain or charm. Your accessory needs to match your outfit, and you can choose pieces with many different colors, like chunky chains, large statement earrings, or even a necklace made out of crystal beads. You can try this 60s jewelry trend with any look you want to wear, simple or bold.

Clip-on Earrings

Clip-on Earrings

This 60s jewelry trend was all about adding accessories to complete an ensemble. In the 60s, women had clip-on earrings in different shapes and sizes. They were used to show off wealth and style because there was a lot of attention to detail regarding the design of these pieces. Today, you can still follow this trend with a more modern twist. You can choose your favorite pair of fashion-forward earrings and make them even bolder by adding something like an oversized clip-on piece that matches or contrasts with the color palette.

Try these different 60s jewelry trends and make your unique style. All you have to do is choose the trend that suits you best and add a modern twist to it. Remember, fashion is all about creating your style and making something bold for others to see. The 60s were a decade of transformation regarding jewelry trends, and the jewelry became more extravagant.

Leave a Reply