Engagement Rings & Weddings
A Complete Guide to Classic Wedding Jewelry
By Kristen Shirley, Updated June 20, 2025
Discover the most timeless styles for classic diamond wedding jewelry, from elegant studs to heirloom-worthy necklaces and bands.
RINGS GREENWICH ST. JEWELERS
No matter what trends come and go, brides who choose a classic wedding dress paired with timeless wedding jewelry will always look effortlessly elegant—and have wedding photos that never feel dated. Classic doesn’t mean boring; in fact, it’s often the most refined and striking choice.
Imagine a luxurious silk gown in a sleek silhouette with a daring open back, a simple updo, and radiant natural diamond wedding jewelry that catches the light from every angle. From diamond studs to delicate tennis bracelets and graceful drop earrings, these pieces elevate the look into something unforgettable. When done right, a classic bridal style with thoughtfully chosen wedding jewelry becomes a sparkling hit.
What Defines Classic Wedding Jewelry?
When styling a bride who envisions a timeless, elegant wedding day, selecting the right wedding jewelry is key. Classic wedding jewelry is defined by its enduring beauty, refined design, and meaningful symbolism—think diamond studs, delicate tennis bracelets, pearl drop earrings, and heirloom-inspired engagement rings that never go out of style. These pieces not only elevate the bride’s overall look but also become cherished keepsakes passed down for generations.
Whether you’re choosing jewelry for the bride, groom, or bridesmaids, classic styles offer unmatched versatility and sophistication. Read on for high-impact styling tips and inspiration to complete your classic wedding jewelry look—from ceremony to celebration.
Meet the Expert
- Kristen Shirley is a New York-based luxury expert, writer, editor, and stylist who specializes in travel, fashion, fine watches, jewelry, wine and spirits.
- She is the founder of La Patiala, the luxury encyclopedia
- Her work has appeared in Bloomberg Businessweek, Departures, Business Insider, Robb Report, and Editorialist, among others
Must-Haves for Classic Wedding Jewelry
A simple silk and lace gown lets glittering jewelry take center stage. Wearing your hair up? Opt for impactful yet simple drop earrings, like these from Mimi So, which mix different diamond cuts including round, oval, marquise, and trillion-cut diamonds. The variety of shapes create a beautiful effect and add a touch of modernity to a classic piece. Diamond stud earrings are a perfect eternal option if you’re wearing your hair down or want something with a more understated, refined look.
Also, wear a delicate necklace, like this diamond one from Greenwich St. Jewelers, featuring a simple white gold chain studded with five dangling pendant diamonds. It mixes pear-shaped and round diamonds, so it perfectly complements the earrings.
When it comes to bracelets, instead of stacking multiple bracelets, opt for a single statement piece or delicate and radiant tennis bracelet. Nouvel Heritage’s gorgeous Mood: Diamond Tuxedo bangle from Greenwich St. Jewelers is classic with a twist. The bracelet also comes in titanium versions for men, so he can wear a matching one under his tuxedo.
Now for the ring… A round, brilliant-cut diamond solitaire might be the most classic engagement ring of all time—and for good reason. This silhouette will never go out of style and is the perfect way to place all of the focus on a stunning stone. The Watts solitaire engagement ring from Greenwich St. Jewelers features a 6.42 carat round brilliant cut diamond in a four-prong platinum setting on a thin rose gold band.
With such an incredible natural diamond engagement ring, you’ll want to pick more delicate wedding and anniversary bands that won’t compete with the solitaire. These thin wedding bands from the Greenwich St. Jewelers Ceremony feature prong-set brilliant-cut diamonds spaced out across a yellow or rose gold band. Mixing metals like this is ultra-modern and lets you wear whatever metals you want to in the rest of your jewelry.
Classic Wedding Jewelry for the Groom
When it comes to wedding diamond jewelry for men, you can’t go wrong accessorizing a classic black tuxedo with some decadent diamond cufflinks. These cufflinks have an oval shape and are set all around with pavé diamonds. They match his wedding band, a handsome piece of jewelry set with diamonds around the middle. Keep the rest of the look simple with a fly-front dress shirt. A placket covers the buttons so you don’t need studs or button covers, creating an elegant look.
Classic Wedding Jewelry for the Bridesmaids
RING (TOP) SYLVIE COLLECTION AT GREENWICH ST. JEWELERS RING (BOTTOM) GREENWICH ST. JEWELERS BANGLE ROBERTO DEMEGLIO AT GREENWICH ST. JEWELERS
You can make a jewelry statement with just a few pieces if they are bold enough. Roberto Demeglio’s Giotto bracelets from Greenwich St. Jewelers, are stretchy, so they’re easy to slide on and off, and they come in a variety of widths and diamond colors. This medium Giotto diamond stretch bracelet features several rows of pavé diamonds and is comfortable enough to wear dancing all night.
A large cocktail ring beautifully balances a wide bracelet.. You don’t need a significant stone, though. This ring from Sylvie Collection sets round diamonds in a quilted milgrain pattern with beading atop the edges of the quilting to add more texture to the piece. It’s worth noting that the diamonds are only on the front of the ring, making it more affordable.
And, of course, diamond studs and her own engagement ring are the perfect finishing touches for any bridesmaid. These diamond stud earrings from G.St feature 3.19 carats of natural diamonds. The ring is also from Greenwich St. Jewelers in its Ceremony collection. The Grand engagement ring features an emerald cut diamond flanked by step-cut trapezoid diamonds on an 18 karat white gold band.
If your bridesmaid prefers more delicate pieces, layering thinner pieces can create just as striking of an effect, especially when mixing metals with white and fancy-colored diamonds.
This stack of fabulous diamond rings features three different types of eternity bands. The top ring, the Greenwich St. Jewelers Ceremony Varick band, features 1.90 carats of oval diamonds that are set horizontally on a platinum band. This unique east-west setting is becoming more and more popular in engagement rings, too. In the middle, there’s a three-row eternity band from Lauren Addison Jewelry. It features two rows of white diamonds alongside a row of natural fancy yellow diamonds. Finally, the classic Jane eternity wedding band from G.St Ceremony features 2.50 carats of round diamonds.
Bridesmaids definitely don’t need to be shy about color (unless the bride requests otherwise). These bangles from Greenwich St. Jewelers come in different colored metals and widths, all set with white diamonds, so you can create a unique stack that matches the rest of her jewelry.
For formal events, wearing one simple necklace is better than layering, which can be a bit trendy and won’t suit the traditional wedding style you are aiming for. This delicate but still beautiful diamond dangle necklace from Gilded is set with seven petite diamonds on a thin yellow gold chain. Despite its stature, it will definitely show up in photographs.
Thin bar earrings are the pièce de résistance for this elegant look. The diamond stick earrings from Greenwich St. Jewelers mirrors the style of the bride’s drop earrings, but are a completely different interpretation. A petite trillion cut diamond stud from Gilded finishes the look.
How to Choose the Right Classic Wedding Jewelry
Classic weddings are a tasteful blend of tradition and style, setting the the tone for events that are timeless and memorable. Keep these tips in mind when deciding which classic diamond jewelry may align with your style for the big day.
Matching diamond jewelry is a great way to create a cohesive look for a classic wedding. Selecting a set of jewelry from the same collection makes any look more refined, or pair pieces that are similar in style across brands that you love.
A line of gorgeous natural diamonds, either as a line necklace of bracelets, add instant sophistication to every classic wedding look. Wear line bracelets and necklaces on their own for a minimalist effect of layer with one more piece to add dimension.
Diamond drop earrings provide the right mix of classic and cool elegance, and are ideal for pulled-back hairstyles.
Wedding Jewelry Inspiration from Real Classic Weddings
Look to celebrities and royals known for their classic sense of style and elegant bridal looks, like Kate Middleton, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Hailee Steinfeld, or Sofia Richie. Each bride brought her own distinct sense of style—elevated by timeless wedding jewelry—while creating a classic wedding look that will be used as bridal inspiration for decades to come.
Kate Middleton and Grace Kelly both wore a lace long-sleeved bodice and a full skirt. The Princess of Wales’ jewelry may not have been understated, but there’s nothing more classic than a diamond tiara!
Modern brides Hailee Steinfeld and Sofia Richie brought their personal style to their classic wedding looks, wearing very different gowns, but both giving classic bridal energy. They too wore simple diamonds to complement the look, Sofia opting for drop earrings and Hailee with diamond studs.
Shop Classic Wedding Jewelry
Shop classic wedding jewelry that never goes out of style, from timeless diamond studs to elegant tennis bracelets and drop earrings. Whether you’re the bride, a bridesmaid, or a guest, these enduring pieces add effortless sophistication to any wedding look.
Tiffany & Co Solitaire Diamond Stud Earrings, from $1,450, tiffany.com
Graff Emerald Cut Diamond Wedding Band, from $40,000 graff.com
Kwiat Sunburst Line Necklace with Diamonds, $19,900, kwiat.com
Retrouvai Round Diamond Bezel Earrings $35,000, retrouvai.com
Jennifer Meyer Graduated Diamond Tennis Necklace, $15,000 jennifermeyer.com
Fernando Jorge Sequence Short Earrings, $6,700, fernandojorge.com
Briony Raymond Regent Diamond Eternity Band, $18,800, brionyraymond.com
Tiffany & Co Tiffany T Smile Pendant, $3,600 tiffany.com
Greenwich St. Jewelers Diamond Baguette Studs, $1,175, greenwichjewelers.com
Melissa Kaye Aria V Necklace Mini, $4,650, melissakaye.com
Tiffany and Co South Sea Noble Pearl Earrings, $5,900 tiffany.com
Kwiat Line Bracelet with Diamonds, $10,800, kwiat.com
Lizzie Mandler Large Alternating Drop Diamond Studs, $12,100, lizziemandler.com
De Beers Aura Round Brilliant Diamond Sleepers, $10,100, debeers.com
Lizzie Mandler Asscher Bezel Diamond Studs, from $3,420, lizziemandler.com
Tiffany Novo Emerald-cut Engagement Ring with Pavé Band, price upon request, tiffany.com
Harry Winston Cluster Diamond Earrings, $34,200 harrywinston.com
Norman Silverman Emerald Cut Diamond Halo Pendant, $6,000, normansilverman.com
FAQ: Classic Wedding Jewelry
1. What is considered classic wedding jewelry?
Classic wedding jewelry made with natural diamonds includes timeless pieces such as diamond stud earrings, tennis bracelets, solitaire pendants, and simple engagement or wedding rings. These styles emphasize elegance, enduring beauty, and are perfect for a traditional bridal look.
2. How do I choose the right wedding jewelry for a classic bridal style?
Opt for refined designs featuring natural diamonds in traditional cuts like round, emerald, or oval. Settings in platinum or white gold add to the timeless appeal and pair beautifully with a classic gown.
3. Can classic wedding jewelry be worn after the wedding?
Yes—one of the greatest benefits of investing in natural diamond wedding jewelry is its lasting versatility. These classic pieces can be worn for anniversaries, formal occasions, or passed down as meaningful heirlooms.
4. Should bridesmaids wear classic wedding jewelry too?
For a cohesive and elevated look, consider gifting your bridal party delicate natural diamond jewelry such as petite studs or fine diamond necklaces. These pieces complement the bride’s look without overshadowing it and become treasured keepsakes.
5. What are the best classic wedding jewelry options for grooms?
Classic wedding jewelry for grooms often includes a sleek platinum or gold band featuring a single natural diamond or subtle pavé accents. Natural diamond cufflinks, a tie pin, or a brooch can also add an elegant, polished finish to a groom’s ensemble.
