Gem-maxxing is the new way to wear your sparkle

From JLo’s jewel-encrusted dress to Sonam Kapoor’s maximalist stacks, jewellery is getting louder by ushering in a new era of colour and unapologetic sparkle.

Up until the last season, jewellery whispered. Barely-there chains, tiny studs and discreet bands became shorthand for quiet luxury, where the most coveted pieces were often the ones that didn’t announce themselves. However, now, the mood is changing as jewellery is getting bigger, brighter and far less interested in blending in.

(L-R) Dolce and Gabbana's Alta Moda 2026 showcase, Sonam Kapoor (Instagram)

Enter gem-maxxing - the new appetite for dialling up colour, scale and visual impact through gemstones. It can mean a stack of colourful rings, an oversized cocktail stone, a necklace layered with contrasting gems or simply one spectacular piece that refuses to play supporting act.

According to Future Market Insights, India’s coloured gemstones market was valued at $0.9 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $2.3 billion by 2035, growing at a 10.5% CAGR. Emeralds are expected to remain the leading stone category, accounting for an estimated 41.7% share in 2025. The numbers point to a market increasingly moving beyond the traditional diamond-led jewellery wardrobe.

Bedazzling gets a luxe upgrade

The connection isn’t coincidental. “They’re both very similar, just expressed in different materials,” says celebrity fashion stylist Shraddha Lakhani. She continues, “The impulse behind both is the same - to make something more decorative, more visible and more expressive. Bedazzling does it through crystals and rhinestones, while gem-maxxing brings that same maximalist energy through precious and coloured stones.”

Jewellery with a little drama

Jewellery designers note that gem-maxxing isn’t just an Instagram aesthetic. “Gem-maxing is indeed a real shift and not just another social media gimmick. The 2026 jewellery playbook is all about bold silhouettes, layered necklaces, mixed metals, stacked bracelets and colourful gemstones,” says jewellery designer Rhea Poddar Loyalka.

For jewellery designer Sapna Mehta, the shift is less about quantity and more about personality. “The important distinction is that maximalism today is not necessarily about wearing more pieces; it is about choosing pieces with more personality and impact,” she says.

Colour becomes the hero

The biggest change may be the move beyond an overwhelmingly diamond-led jewellery wardrobe. Emeralds, sapphires, rubies, tourmalines and amethysts are finding space alongside diamonds, while less conventional stones are gaining attention for their individual character.

“We are seeing particularly strong interest in coloured gemstones, especially emeralds, sapphires, tourmalines and amethysts, alongside diamonds,” says Mehta. “People increasingly want colour to be the hero of a piece, with diamonds used to enhance and frame it rather than always being the sole focus.”

That is what makes coloured gemstones particularly suited to the gem-maxxing mood. Unlike simply adding more diamonds, colour introduces contrast and character. “You can play with scale, unexpected colour combinations, different cuts and even contrasting stones without the piece necessarily feeling too heavy or traditional,” says jewellry designer Neha Roongta.

How to nail the gem-maxxing trend

Lakhani says the trick is to embrace the drama without letting the jewellery overwhelm the person wearing it. “The biggest mistake is wearing everything at once,” she says. Her approach is to choose a focal point first, then build around it — allowing one spectacular piece to command attention while the rest of the look plays support.

Her handy tips-

• Make one piece the star: If the ring is making a statement, keep the earrings quieter.
• Mix metals without overthinking it: Gold and silver don’t need to stay in separate camps. Mixing metals can make a stack feel more contemporary and less overly coordinated.
• Let colour do the talking: Try one oversized coloured gemstone against a pared-back outfit.
• Keep the rest of the look clean: A maximalist jewellery moment doesn’t require maximalist clothing. A simple shirt, pared-back dress or denim gives statement gems room to shine.
• Think focal point, not jewellery overload: Quiet luxury taught us discipline. Gem-maxxing asks us to spend it differently — not on how little we wear, but on how well we choose the one piece that gets to be loud.