Yellow Fever
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

After a white hot decade for pale gold and platinum, yellow gold jewelry is now warming up cuffs, pendants, earrings, and engagement rings. While the yellow gold of the early ’90s was fashioned into simple twists and understated, matte chokers, these days jewelry designers are offering up bolder, shinier accessories, such as highly textured necklaces and gemstone-adorned bracelets.
“Crochet it, knit it, hammer it, put stones on it, cut it out,” the chief executive of Fragments, a jewelry store with locations in SoHo and on the Upper East Side, Janet Goldman, said of the artisan-crafted yellow gold jewelry popular for fall. This season, Fragments (116 Prince St., between Wooster and Greene streets, 212-334-9588; and 997 Madison Ave. at 77th Street, 212-537-5000) is featuring hand-hammered 24 karat yellow gold earrings by Nava Zahavi ($655), and 18 karat yellow gold rings with bezel-set round and marquis-shaped diamonds by Annie Fensterstock ($2,350–$4,250).
Jewelry designer Neil Lane, who has created red carpet pieces for actresses Kate Hudson and Tori Spelling, said yellow gold jewelry can be dressed up or down, with “gold filigree lending itself to the funky boho look.” Mr. Lane’s handiwork doesn’t come cheap: Citrine drop earrings set in yellow gold retail for $6,800 at Saks Fifth Avenue (611 Fifth Ave. at 50th Street, 212-753-4000), while some of the designer’s diamond-encrusted jewelry cross the six-figure threshold.
For less expensive options, Satya, an Indianinspired jewelry store with locations in the West Village (330 Bleecker St. at Christopher Street, 212-243-6930), NoLita (253 Centre St., between Grand and Broome streets, 212-966-3377), and on the Upper West Side (2265 Broadway, between 81st and 82nd streets, 212-799-5490), has a large array of yellow gold necklaces and bracelets. The lightweight gold woven cuff ($228) and triple pendant necklace, available in red garnet and citrine ($98), are elegant, everyday pieces.
Gas Bijoux (238 Mott St., between Prince and Spring streets, 212-334-7290), a jewelry line from St. Tropez, France, features whimsical yellow gold-and-enamel gypsy-style accessories. The gold bracelets and meaty medallions are heavy enough for fall’s slouchy sweaters, yet light on the wallet. The chunky, yellow gold beaded “Taxi” bracelets ($165 each) can be worn stacked or solo. With yellow gold having its moment, many women are deciding to commit to it — for life. In the past year Tiffany, H. Stern Jewelers, and Bulgari have reported seeing a spike in women requesting engagement rings set in yellow gold. At H. Stern (645 Fifth Ave., between 51st and 52nd streets, 212-688-0300), some couples are choosing the art deco “Stern Star,” featuring white diamonds set in 18 karat “noble gold,” a flesh tone alloy ($20,000–$330,000).
“As women get more involved in the process of buying engagement rings, you start to see them choosing yellow gold for the logical style reasons,” a spokeswoman for H. Stern, Andrea Hansen, said. “A woman who wears yellow gold on a regular basis may defy convention and choose a yellow gold engagement ring, knowing it will coordinate with her jewelry.”