Sun-Warmed Skin & Layered Jewelry: A How-To Guide to Summer Stacking

You style jewelry for summer by building on the stack you already wear, then turning the volume up or down to suit the heat and the vibe, the choice is yours. Some add a few summer nods to their everyday layers, a pearl here, a shell there, and let the rest do the work. Others lean into a fuller, more intricate stack to play against the pared-back, breathable outfits that suit warmer weather.

• Build around a base you love. Start with a well-loved layer like a Sweet Nothing Gold Choker. Sits right at the collarbone, is adjustable, and moves effortlessly alongside sunkissed skin.

• Let bare outfits carry more. Pair a fuller necklace stack or a wrist of bracelets with simple linen, cotton, or more airy or open necklines.

• Keep it unfussy. A lone anklet or a single charm necklace can be just as considered as a full stack.

Summer jewelry trends this year fall into three easy categories: motif, color, and of-the-moment silhouettes. Lean into one or weave all three through your stack, depending on how much you want your jewelry to nod to the season.

• By motif. Reach for summer-feeling designs like shells, pearls, and florals. A Mermaid's Treasure Charm adds a little seaside storytelling to any chain. Our Summer Capsule also includes charm styles like a seahorse, ice cream cone, coral, shell earrings, and more.

• By color and tone. Add gemstone pops that suit sunny days. A Little Star Birthstone Charm brings a wash of candy color to your stack, and you can shop by stone to find your own. We also love sapphires for their range of hues, from pool blue to cornflower and periwinkle sunset tones, reminiscent of the blues of summer days.

• Of-the-moment styles. Tennis bracelets and necklaces are everywhere as the US Open kicks off the summer season, but we love how they look and feel all year round. There is something about the drape of a languid, shining tennis bracelet that elevates even the simplest of summer outfits in an heirloom-worthy, yet unfussy way. Try the One O'Clock Tennis Bracelet, the One O'Clock Tennis Necklace, or the Pointelle Diamond Tennis Bracelet from our One O'Clock Tennis collection.

The best jewelry for summer outfits is fine, solid gold pieces that layer easily and wear all day, so they look as good with a swimsuit at noon as a dress at dinner. Because summer clothing is simple and breathable, your jewelry becomes the detail that makes an outfit feel finished and yours. These are our favorite building blocks to mix and restyle all season:

• Threadbare Gold Stacking Ring. A wear-forever classic that catches the light and stacks in multiples.

• Hundred Summers Ring. Made for exactly this season, ready to layer or wear on its own.

• Grand Engravable Letter Cygnet Ring. A reimagining of the classic signet ring that hugs you close, engraved with a letter that means something to you. Feels nostalgic, like it was plucked from the novel you are reading by the pool.

• Sweet Nothing Gold Choker. A shining, close-to-the-neck layer that sits perfectly against summer skin.

• Memento Custom Charm Holder Necklace. Gather your charms and let the stack tell your story as the season unfolds.

Want more to choose from? Explore our solid gold rings, solid gold necklaces, and the full solid gold collection.

The best jewelry for the beach is solid gold, because it stands up to swim, sweat, and soaking up the sun far better than plated pieces or those made with other metals. Salt water, sand, and sunscreen are hard on jewelry, so this is the moment to wear pieces made to last. We carry both solid 14k and solid 10k gold, so you can choose the karat that feels right and wear it straight from the towel into the water. Our favorites for shoreline days include:

• Hundred Summers Anklet. An anklet is the piece that shines brightest at the beach, glinting just above bare feet in the sand. Find more in our anklets edit.

• Threadbare Gold Stacking Ring. Fine, deceptively strong, and happy to stay on through every dip in the water.

• Spritz Herringbone Gold Bracelet. A signature, flexible bracelet that moves with you effortlessly, like liquid, effervescent gold.

Solid gold jewelry is essentially waterproof, which is exactly why it is our top pick for summer. You can wear it in the pool, in the ocean, and through a workout without worrying, because solid gold does not tarnish or degrade the way plated metals do. This is the whole idea behind a put it on, never take it off collection: pieces that simply live with you, in the shower, through sweat, and into the water. Whether you choose solid 14k or solid 10k gold, both are made to last in life's everyday flow.

That said, a little care keeps your pieces shining. Solid gold can handle the water, but a few simple habits help it look its best after a day in the sun:

• Rinse after the pool or ocean. A quick freshwater rinse lifts away the chlorine and salt that can dull the shine over time.

• Wash gently now and then. Warm water and a soft cloth are usually all it takes to clear residue from sweat and sunscreen.

• Dry before you store. A soft pat down keeps your stack ready for the next sun-soaked day.

Treated kindly, your stack only grows more beautiful with time.

Pack jewelry that layers, travels light, and pulls double duty across every outfit in your suitcase. Summer-leaning layers are the perfect complement to a capsule wardrobe, because the right pieces make a handful of outfits feel fresh, even when you plan to rewear them. Bringing your collection along means a single dress can read three ways, depending on what you stack with it. A simple packing list to start from:

• Memento Custom Charm Holder Necklace. One chain, endless looks, as you swap charms day to day.

• One O'Clock Tennis Bracelet. A shining everyday piece that dresses up an evening just as easily.

• Sweet Nothing Gold Choker. A versatile base layer for daytime and dinner alike.

• Hundred Summers Anklet. The finishing touch for sandals, swimsuits, and bare feet.

The best summer layering tip is to start with what you already love and add intention from there. Here is everything above, distilled into a few takeaways to use as you build your stack:

• Add, not overhaul. Begin with your everyday pieces, then layer in a few summer nods.

• Choose solid gold. So your stack can handle swim, sweat, sun, and perfume without ever coming off.

• Play with motif, color, and tennis styles. Small seasonal touches make your layers feel like summer.

• Let anklets and charms shine. They thrive in summer.

• Remember to clean your heirlooms! Gently lift away sunscreen, salt, and chlorine to keep them luminous.

Ready to build your season? Explore the Summer Jewels collection for instant heirlooms made to last, designed in our Brooklyn studio in over 95% recycled solid gold, and create summer layers that are unique to you.

All Catbird jewelry is made in solid 14k and solid 10k gold with over 95% recycled materials, designed in our Brooklyn studio. Complimentary gift wrapping on every order.