Among all the insights to emerge from this weekend’s LFW showcase, the one that made us the most excited was the news that maximalism, inspired by 1980s self-expressionism, is back.
From strong sculptural earrings and statement chokers to brooches worn in an array of unexpected ways, the message was clear: the bold maximalist revival is here to stay.
How the 80s inspired new forms of self-expression
The 1980s was an era of glamor, transformation and self-expression that reflected individual style, self-expression and luxury. This could be seen across every genre of the decade from TV and film to music, and, of course, royalty. And despite being known for their elegance and quiet luxury, natural diamonds played a seminal role.
The 80s stars leading the charge
Imagine for a moment you’ve been transported back to 1983. Nancy Reagan, known for her extensive diamond collection, is the First Lady of the United States; Princess Diana famously wore the exquisite natural diamond Spencer Tiara (a family heirloom she later repurposed as a necklace) and Elizabeth Taylor was regularly seen in the most ornate of historical diamonds, including the 33.19-carat Krupp diamondi and the 69.42-carat Taylor-Burton diamond1.
Even musicians such as Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince and Freddie Mercury embraced the heirloom luxury of a historic diamond piece on and off stage.
Key natural diamonds looks to embrace
While the bigger-is-better mantra of the 80s opened the door to an ‘anything goes’ approach to finessing your fashion ensemble, the revival comes with a modern whimsical twist that celebrates both the quiet luxury of natural diamonds and a subtle form of self-expression.
Floral motifs
Floral motifs popped up everywhere on the runways from Simone Rocha’s whimsical yet polished drop earrings and sculptural necklaces to Raw Mango’s ode to the traditional Indian garland in collaboration with De Beers. The brand’s It’s Not About The Flower show focused on provenance and craftsmanship, highlighting adornment as an expression of individuality, culture, and personal style.
“Raw Mango speaks to the unripe and imperfect idea of beauty,” says Sanjay Garg, textile designer and founder of the Indian luxury brand. “Our work is a response to an internal pursuit – what excites us, what needs to be explored, what holds meaning.”
The garments and silhouettes shown on the runway offered interpretations of how a garland sits on the body, with flowers constructed in various non-traditional and silk-like fabrics and were complemented beautifully by Forevermark natural diamond jewelry.
“This collaboration celebrates the rarity, integrity and timelessness of natural diamonds,” says Shweta Harit, global senior vice president at De Beers Group and CEO of Forevermark. “Rooted in individuality and personal expression – each diamond carries its own story through a unique inscription. Raw Mango’s thoughtful approach to craft and storytelling makes this a natural meeting of heritage and contemporary creativity on a global stage.”
Heirloom sparkle
Seen up and down many a runway, vintage Hollywood glamor replaced delicate layering for 2026. Embracing your history by wearing jewelry with a sincere story hidden within its sparkle, is a modern form of self-expression.
At Richard Quinn, statement jewelry was the order of the day as guests were dazzled by an unapologetic glamor in the form of sculptured silhouettes and chunky maximalist natural diamonds for a theatrical finishing touch.
Display strong single vintage pieces from the family collection with pride whether it’s a pair of structured earrings, a bold ring in an array of Desert diamond shades or a statement pin.
Brooches
One of Nancy Raegan’s beloved pieces from her jewelry collection was a coral, diamond and gold Ruser brooch, which later sold at Christie’s auction for $5,6252, and the demand for symbolic pins of this kind of beauty is not waning.
Actor Regé -Jean Page arrived at the BAFTAs wearing a Desert diamond dragonfly brooch by Hirsh London in place of a tie, and Chopova Lowena contrasted patchworked knitwear and reclaimed deadstock denim pieces with sparkling brooches.
Worn on the wrist, to pin a scarf around the waist or as an embellishment on a bag: the natural diamond brooch is huge for 2026 and the more sparkle the better.
Maximalist mix ups
Pairing your Sunlit White Desert diamond earrings with a vivid yellow statement ring is the perfect way to show off your authentic and imperfect self. The natural diamond colors and inclusions in these pieces should speak for themselves in simple settings of smooth gold or platinum.
The diamond choker
A flattering 80s statement with a timeless diamond twist, the choker has been on red carpets everywhere this awards season and it’s set to remain a centerpiece for 2026.
At the Grammy’s, Hailey Bieber wore a custom Lorraine Schwartz choker with a 30-carat pear-shaped diamond at its centre and, for the Bluff premiere Priyanka Chopra wore a Monete diamond choker to accompany 43 carats of Bulgari diamonds3.
Charlie XCX’s Anabela Chan diamond choker stole the show at the Berlin Film Festivaliv in February while Lady Amelia Spencer adorned her silver gown for the Vienna Opera Ball with an elegant choker featuring emeralds and diamonds4.
The beauty of natural diamonds
The beauty of diamonds is their versatility. Their ability to be both quietly elegant and majestically bold, depending on how you choose to wear them, makes them the ideal choice. And as a diamond is forever, you know you’ll always have the perfect finishing touch at your fingertips.
