What is a gold jewelry staple? Most jewelers would agree that chain link necklaces, hoop earrings, and bangle bracelets certainly qualify. But if you’re anything like us, you’ve probably identified a new(ish) trend that’s quickly become a showcase essential: initial jewels.
While jewels, especially pendants, shaped in the form of letters are not strictly new—signet rings bearing family crests and, later, initials, date all the way back to ancient Egypt—their sheer ubiquity of late is, quite frankly, unprecedented.
The style is so popular that in addition to basic initial and letter jewels in unembellished Times New Roman–style fonts, we’re seeing designers introduce custom typefaces and handwrought letter forms to offer clients more unusual options in an increasingly crowded space.
Below, we’ve highlighted a handful of our favorite new letter styles, as well as a few that aren’t new but we continue to covet. Talk about an initial public offering!
Elizabeth Moore
The New York City–based designed introduced her 14k gold Initial Charm collection in 2022. “It’s been one of our most popular collections, and we recently added diamonds and gemstones to our larger initials, which have quickly become customer favorites,” Moore tells JCK.
“The collection was originally inspired by the puffy balloon letters from my daughter’s 16th birthday,” she adds. “A playful reminder to celebrate the everyday moments.”
Initial charm ring in 14k yellow gold, $1,600; Elizabeth Moore
The brand’s Initial rings continue to be best sellers, Moore says, adding that many women start with one and build a personalized stack of two to three over time. She also offers Initial Charm hoops as singles or pairs.
Initial charm hoop in 14k yellow gold, $950 for single; Elizabeth Moore
Future Fortune
The Los Angeles–based brand’s Groovy Initials collection draws inspiration from the psychedelic era of the late 1960s. Designer Jessica Olds has crafted an original alphabet that is both whimsical and retro, as evident in the pleasing curl of her G pendant, which hangs from a 20-inch paperclip chain.
Groovy Initial necklace in 18k yellow gold, $5,500; Future Fortune Jewelry
ITÄ Jewelry
Inés Capó and Afet Burcu Salargil introduced the brand’s Sanse collection of letter jewels in 2024, but the line, inspired by the distinct Gothic lettering seen in Spain’s Basque country, was years in the making.
“We had always wanted to do initials, but it was hard to think about what typography was going to represent us,” Capó says. “And especially for me. I love typography. I really wanted it to be expressive of our identity and to have personality, so that when people see it, they know instantly that it’s an ITÄ initial.”
The cofounders and best friends spent almost two years perfecting the custom typeface, which they cobbled together by taking different letters and styles from various typography foundries. “We played with each one, the curves, the thickness, and in the end, we ended up creating our own Basque typography,” Capó says.
Renato Cipullo
In the early 1970s, shortly after he emigrated to New York City from his native Italy, Cipullo designed a pair of gold earrings for his aunt fashioned in the shape of a G and a C. Decades later, the designer, together with his daughter and managing director, Serena Cipullo, repurposed the bold gold forms into a popular line of gold pendants called Splendente. We’re smitten!
Splendente letter pendant in 18k gold, $7,950; Renato Cipullo
Sorellina
Available in a range of gemstones—including malachite, black onyx, tiger’s eye, lapis, pink opal, and gray moonstone—Sorellina’s charming gold intaglio initial rings are ideal for self-purchasers and gift-givers alike.
Custom intaglio initial signet ring in 18k gold with malachite and diamonds, $3,500; Sorellina
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