Diamond Body Chains Are Bringing Back the Naughty Noughties
The diamond body chain is back in the spotlight. See how the Y2K favorite got a natural diamond upgrade and became summer’s most seductive jewelry trend.
Kim Kardashian wears a diamond belly chain during her Hawaiian vacation this summer. (Instagram: @kimkardashian)
A callback to the heady days of Y2K, the belly chain is back—and this time, it’s dripping in diamonds. In the early 2000s, arbiters of style like Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, and Paris Hilton made metallic and bedazzled belly chains a fixture of the era, wearing them slung low over bare midriffs and shocking low-rise jeans.
And who can forget Beyoncé’s iconic look in her Crazy in Love music video? Her denim daisy dukes and silver tank top are paired with a dainty body chain that cascades from her neck to her hip and across her belly. She even followed suit in her visual album for Lemonade, continuing her love for the body chain.
Meet the Expert
- Jacquie Aiche is the founder of her eponymous jewelry brand, based in Los Angeles, California.
- She began her career designing and selling her jewelry anonymously out of a boutique in Beverly Hills.
- Her jewelry has been worn and adored by celebrities like Salma Hayek, Hailey Bieber, Behati Prinsloo, and more.
This summer, stars like Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and more are accessorizing their skimpy bikinis with diamond body chains to amp up the glam. Here, take a deep dive into our enduring fascination with body jewelry and how to incorporate it into your wardrobe, whether it be by the pool or on the run.
The Diamond Body Chain Is Back From the Y2K Archives
The enduring staying power of ’90s and early-2000s jewelry lies in its versatility. Whether you’re going for a minimalist look, grunge, something futuristic, or glamazon maximalism, there’s a perfect diamond jewelry staple for you, indicative of the decade.
While trends are fickle, the decade’s signature jewels have endured – never really going out of style. Many ’90s jewelry mainstays have retained their cultural capital today, like the sensual bedazzled belly chain or the diamond body chain to go with low-rise jeans or the perfect stage-worthy concert ‘fit.
The Designer Behind the Celebrity Belly Chain Trend
Now, the enduring summer accessory has gotten a facelift, thanks to the help of natural diamonds. A champion of the diamond body chain, designer Jacquie Aiche has kept the jewelry staple in her rotation since day one. “Body chains have been a part of my collection since the very beginning, around 2007,” Aiche tells Only Natural Diamonds.
“I knew I was meant to create jewelry that celebrated the female form in a more sensual, spiritual way…At the time, there was nothing in the fine jewelry space that felt as free or intimate as what I was envisioning. Body jewelry became my signature – a second skin that’s feminine and effortless…A natural extension of the beauty we all carry. They’re sacred layers you slip into. And they feel just as powerful as they look.”
And why add natural diamonds? “Since day one. I’ve always believed in the energy of minerals and of natural diamonds – their radiance, their power, their intention,” she says. “From my earliest designs, natural diamonds have been my main source material. They go into almost every piece I create. To me, designing with natural diamonds is a way to honor the light within everyone who wears them.”
From Rihanna to Miley Cyrus, Emily Ratajkowski, and more, gangs of A-listers have flocked to Aiche’s dainty diamond creations, draping diamonds across their body and around their waists. “Everything I design is based on intuition and feeling, so when such inspiring women adorn themselves in our body chains, it means the world to me,” she says. “These women embody the freedom, confidence, and sensuality that the JA tribe is all about. It’s not just about wearing something beautiful; it’s about feeling something powerful. Highlighting their shine is the magic.”
The Diamond Body Chain Is the Ultimate Swim Accessory
Aiche can easily be considered the queen of body chains, with Hailey Bieber as a noted fan. The Rhode founder has been known to sport the designer’s Diamond Bar Chain Body Chain in her swimwear. The perfect blingy addition to any bikini, the diamond body chain adds an elevated style to any beach-ready look.
The Diamond Belly Chain Is Made for Everyday Wear and Going Out
Diamond body chains aren’t just meant to be a beachy jewel. Take a page from Hailey Bieber’s book and wear yours out and about for an effortless everyday look with jeans and a leather jacket. Florence Pugh attended a celebratory daytime soirée, toasting to Creative Director of Coach, Stuart Vevers’ new OBE Award in London. The Dune actress wore a smart Coach navy blue pinstripe matching set. She teamed her trousers with an oversized blazer and a cropped bra top, adding a dainty and dazzling gold body chain to the mix.
Summer parties call for some sizzling, skin-baring ensembles, and the diamond belly chain does just the trick. Top model Anok Yai attended Gigi Hadid’s 30th birthday party in New York City, wearing an open black fuzzy cardigan and a sheer knit skirt. She added to the midriff moment with a custom Wave belly chain from Ailes, featuring a pear-shaped diamond fluttering above her belly button.
In 2023, Kim Kardashian celebrated the Fourth of July at Michael Rubin’s star-studded white party, wearing a two-piece white matching set. Between her crop top and her skirt, the SKIMS mogul adorned a custom-made 17-carat, pear-shaped diamond belly chain by Messika.
Yes, You Can Wear a Diamond Body Chain to a Formal Event
One can’t ignore the versatility of the diamond body chain. Whether you’re running errands, in your swimwear, or attending a formal affair, a body chain is never out of place. Take Dua Lipa, who wore three strands of diamonds across her hips at the 2024 Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian attended the 2023 Annual Parsons Benefit in a striking cobalt blue custom Balmain two-piece ensemble, teamed with a diamond-encrusted belly chain — signaling the summer staple’s triumphant return.
Rihanna changed the idea of maternity fashion forever during her pregnancy in 2022, staying true to her trademark style while she was expecting. During a Fenty Beauty event at Ulta Beauty in LA, Rihanna accented her beautiful bump with a custom Messika High Jewelry diamond belly chain in an “ode to femininity and motherhood,” according to the maison.
