Once Old, This Antique Jewelry Trend Is Now Defining the Most Wanted Jewelry of 2026

Ever since I got engaged last year, I have become a lover of jewellery. I’m Who What Wear’s unofficial fine jewelry reporter, and my Instagram and Pinterest stash contains all kinds of weird jewelry trends that I write about and shop for myself.

However, lately, I’ve found myself drawn to diamonds that aren’t demanding all your attention. You know the kind – less blinding glow, more soft, candlelight glow that looks quietly expensive. That’s exactly the appeal of Georgian-set diamonds, an age-old style that’s suddenly back on my radar and, honestly, my wish list.

This technology dates back to the Georgian era in the United Kingdom, when jewelry was designed to be worn in low light (read: dinner parties lit by chandeliers, not LEDs). Instead of the ultra-precise, over-exposed settings we see today, diamonds were set in gold collets throughout the Georgian period in the 18th and 19th centuries. The setting is reminiscent of a modern-day bezel but with a slightly more structure. It usually has a slightly raised edge and chunky prongs that keep everything in place, giving the stones a moody, glittery effect rather than a sharp, high-watt shine. It feels softer, more handmade and more deliberate.

Like old mine-cut diamonds, antique settings like Georgian-set diamond jewelry are having a moment. What has really brought them back into the limelight is the current wave of effortlessly cool jewelry placements. Jessica McCormack’s Zendaya engagement ring basically sealed the deal for me. Her signature black-gold and button-back Georgian settings make the entire look modern rather than dressy. And then there’s Zoe Kravitz, a Jessica McCormack ambassador, who wears these pieces in that undone, layered way that forces you to rethink everything you thought you knew about antique jewelry.