Culture & Style
THE EDIT
Second Skin Bangles
By Jill Newman, May 14, 2025
These are the diamond bangles that you never, never take off.
BANGLES (L-R) BRIONY RAYMOND, VENDORAFA • TOP BRIEFS AND SWEATER GUEST IN RESIDENCE
Photographed & Directed by: Jennifer Livingston
Styled by: Haidee Findlay-Levin
Words by: Jill Newman
The bangle. It’s simple, effortless and universal. And yet it’s a defining accessory. A single diamond bangle can become a person’s moniker, a piece so lived in that it’s like a second skin. Stacked in multiples, bangles are an expressive statement that can be graceful, boho chic or stylish chaos. It’s been a wardrobe essential for decades, so why all the fuss about it now? It’s this year’s signature accessory: it’s genderless, fashionable and versatile, and one is never enough.
Jewelry houses and countless designers are putting their own spin on diamond bangles. Today’s stylish options signify friendship, love, milestones and status. New signature designs, including Tiffany & Co.’s Lock, Pomellato’s Together and Louis Vuitton’s Empreinte, are as recognizable as a status handbag: You can identify it from across the room.
Meet the Experts
- Victoria Lampley is the owner of The Stax jewelry advisory. She specializes in curating fine jewelry collections with a focus on timeless, wearable pieces.
- Anne Russell is the Executive Vice President of Hamilton Jewelers. She brings decades of experience in luxury retail and a deep expertise in diamond jewelry styling.
Find Your Moniker
From Robinson Pelham’s skinny, feminine styles with tiny diamonds to Tabayer’s sculptural models paved with diamonds and Roberto Coin’s bold gold cuffs with sparkling geometric motifs, there’s a bangle to satisfy every person’s style and mood.
Men are embracing bangles, too, and it’s about time. Many are trading in their beaded bracelets for gold versions with a touch of diamonds, which are far more distinctive and timeless. Among them is Orlando Bloom, who wears Tiffany’s Lock bangle, and Timothée Chalamet and Rami Malek, who have been seen wearing Cartier’s Love bangle.
One of the jewelry industry’s best-dressed designers, Nikos Koulis, who wears a uniform of neutrals by The Row and Loro Piana, recently unveiled his first series of men’s bangles. These sculptural designs in brushed gold or titanium with diamonds are sleek and luxurious, and he says clients often buy them right off his wrist.
Stylish and Sentimental
For Victoria Lampley, owner of The Stax jewelry advisory, “the bangle marks milestones, time, and relationships.” Her stack includes matching Tiffany & Co. friendship styles that she received from her mother on her 18th birthday (they never come off) and one she shares with her own daughter.
“I’m more of a maximalist in terms of jewelry,” says Lampley, pointing to the late Iris Apfel’s signature armfuls of bold bangles as a great example of personal expression. While Lampley prefers to wear them stacked, she says a single bangle can look beautiful.
“I get wrist envy when I see a woman with beautiful, skinny, bird-like wrists that are perfect for the bangle.” She lists Pippa Small, Beck Jewels, Octavia Elizabeth, and Rosa de la Cruz as her favorite diamond bangles.
Pro Styling Tips for Bangles
Another great thing about this bracelet style is that they don’t require much thought; just slip one on anytime. Still, some of the simplest looks are, in fact, nuanced. “Scale and comfort are key to a bangle that you can live in,” says Anne Russell, Executive Vice President of Hamilton Jewelers. It should fit snug but easily move on the wrist, she says.
The bangle is like a blazer; it can pull your look together and appear really elegant.
“The bangle is like a blazer; it can pull your look together and appear really elegant,” she adds. Hamilton’s most popular designs are a stretch diamond style, Fred’s bangles with diamond clasps and Walters Faith’s Fluted diamond and gold bracelets. Russell suggests pairing a wider bangle with your signature timepiece or on the opposite wrist to balance your look.
Don’t be shy about piling them on. Go on and mix old favorites with new designs to refresh your wrist game.
Sexy is Back
There’s something sexy about slipping on a bangle and never taking it off. Now that fashion designers are bringing sexy back, the slinky and sparkling diamond bangle fits right in.
Cartier’s iconic 70s-era Love Bracelet—worn by style icons from Jennifer Aniston and Tina Turner to Tom Ford and Kendall Jenner—is an instantly recognizable status bangle (we love it with diamonds). It literally locks on the wrist with screws and requires a special screwdriver to open it. In a show of commitment, famous couples like Steve McQueen, Ali MacGraw, and Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton wore matching Love Bracelets; the romances didn’t last, but the style endured.
The Timeless Appeal of Bangles
The bangle’s symbolism was established long before designer Aldo Cipullo dreamt up the Love Bracelet in Cartier’s New York studio as a symbol of love and promise. In ancient times, the bangles denoted power, wealth and devotion. They were worn by Ancient Egyptian women as early as 2000 BCE and by both men and women in ancient Greece, Rome and China. In Hinduism, women still wear them as part of the marriage ceremony to reflect their commitment.
Over the centuries, bangles have endured in every generation. But what makes them especially relevant in this moment is their versatility and agelessness. At a time when people are looking to invest in one lasting jewel, a gold and diamond bangle will not only be your wardrobe workhorse but also stand the test of time.
Shop Our Favorite Diamond Bangles
Get inspired by more styles from some of our favorite designers. Whether you prefer minimalist cuffs, pavé-set sparkle, or bold gold statements, these bangles are timeless investments you’ll wear every day.
Anita Ko LARGE COSMO BANGLE WITH ROSE CUT OVAL DIAMOND CENTER, $63,525, anitako.com
Retrouvai Magna Bracelet with Carre Cut Diamonds, $16,570, retrouvai.com
ASHLEY ZHANG JEWELRY PETITE DIAMOND STAR ETERNITY BANGLE, $4,850, ASHLEYZHANGJEWELRY.COM
David Yurman Wisteria Bangle Bracelet in 18K Yellow Gold, $8,500, saksfifthavenue.com.
Tiffany & Co. Tiffany Lock Bangle, $40,000, tiffany.com
Jade Ruzzo Tennessee Bangle, $22,200, JADERUZZO.COM
Jacquie Aiche PAVE DIAMOND WAVE BANGLE BRACELET, $14,478, jacquieaiche.com
HEART THE STONES Diamond and 18K Gold Spindle Bracelet, $15,845, heartthestones.com
BUCCELLATI CLASSICA MACRI 18K YELLOW GOLD AND DIAMOND BANGLE BRACELET, $11,500, londonjewelers.com
Robinson Pelham ATLAS TORQUE BANGLE, $3,054, robinsonpelham.com
David Yurman Sculpted Cable Flex Two Row Bracelet, $14,500, davidyurman.com
Tabayer OERA BRACELET paved with diamonds, $9,950, tabayer.com
Harwell Godfrey DOUBLE BAGUETTE STUD BANGLE, $19,950, harwellgodfrey.com
HOWL BERNE BANGLE, $11,200, handleonlywithlove.com
David Yurman Buckle Cablespira® Bracelet, $2,995, davidyurman.com
Porter Lyons Pyramid Heka Bracelet, $8,825, porterlyons.com
Yvonne Léon Bracelet Jonc Coeur Full Diamants Pm Or Blanc, Price Upon Request, yvonneleon.com
Photographer/Director: Jennifer Livingston
Stylist: Haidee Findlay-Levin
Hair: Junya Nakashima
Makeup: Charlotte Day
Manicurist: Mamie Onishi
Model: Zoe Pena
Creative Director: Lizzy Oppenheimer
Creative Production: Petty Cash Production
Director of Photography: Matthew Schroeder
Photo Assistants: Hans Olson, Eric Tanaka
Digital Tech: Chris Rice
Fashion Assistant: Jasmine Fontaina
