Tropicool: S/S 2020 celebrates palm leaf motifs in fashion and jewellery

April 15, 2020

By Jodie Smith

7 min read

“In 2020, adventurous spirit is to be celebrated: with new visions of Jennifer Lopez’s 2000 Grammy Awards jungle print dress by Versace, palm tree prints on sexy transparent fabrics at Dolce&Gabbana, and art deco motifs transposed onto a tropical colour palette at Louis Vuitton,” Vogue magazine describes the hot Tropicool trend that emerged during the Spring/Summer 2020 catwalks.

Palm prints became de rigueur in fashion and interior design in 2017, and fine jewellery houses have been creating jewels with these exotic prints since long before this. The rainforests and tropical plants which frequently inspire jewellery designers excite with their evocation of warm, glamorous locations, and allow for colourful escapism. Though there are many interpretations of palm prints which are less literal than others, the variations of tropical themed jewels are vast and varied. 

Versace, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana S/S 20 catwalks

Versace, Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana S/S 20 catwalks

Piaget

Piaget is one of the most famous jewellery houses who returns to palm motifs in their jewellery collections time and time again. It all started with 2015’s Mediterranean Garden high jewellery collection which featured diamond embellished draping palm tree shapes, further palm – themed jewellery was spotted in the 2016 Sunny Side of Life collection, before also appearing in 2019 Golden Oasis collection. Although most high jewellery pieces have already been sold, you can treat yourself to palm tree earrings, rings or a necklace in textured rose gold or diamond pave white gold from the brand’s permanent Extremely Piaget’ line.

Piaget 'Palm Tree' choker from the 'Extremely Piaget' collection with diamonds in yellow gold

Piaget 'Palm Tree' choker from the 'Extremely Piaget' collection with diamonds in yellow gold

 Piaget 'Palm Tree' earrings from the 'Extremely Piaget' collection with diamonds in yellow gold

Piaget 'Palm Tree' earrings from the 'Extremely Piaget' collection with diamonds in yellow gold

 Piaget 'Desert Palm' necklace from the 'Golden Oasis' collection with diamonds in yellow gold

Piaget 'Desert Palm' necklace from the 'Golden Oasis' collection with diamonds in yellow gold

 Piaget 'Sunny Side of Life' necklace with emeralds and diamonds in white gold

Piaget 'Sunny Side of Life' necklace with emeralds and diamonds in white gold

David Morris

Another jewellery house that explored the palm motif to the fullest is David Morris of London. This brand’s Palm collection celebrates the exotic palm plant because of its symbolic function – signalling victory, peace and fertility. This highly wearable and timeless collection includes earrings and rings with leaf design mirroring the gentle sway of a palm tree in a tropical breeze. Although most jewels are embellished with diamonds, a selection of coloured stone designs has just been launched, and now amethysts, rubellites, green tourmalines and aquamarines add a splash of colour to Palm jewels. 

David Morris 'Palm' earrings with turquoise and diamonds in white gold

David Morris 'Palm' earrings with turquoise and diamonds in white gold

 David Morris 'Palm' earrings with rubellite and diamonds in yellow gold

David Morris 'Palm' earrings with rubellite and diamonds in yellow gold

 David Morris 'Palm' ring with tourmaline and diamonds in white gold

David Morris 'Palm' ring with tourmaline and diamonds in white gold

 David Morris 'Palm' double ring with Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds in white gold

David Morris 'Palm' double ring with Paraiba tourmaline and diamonds in white gold

 David Morris 'Palm' earrings with emerald and diamonds in white gold

David Morris 'Palm' earrings with emerald and diamonds in white gold

Silvia Furmanovich

Understandably, Brazilian designers often choose to communicate their heritage with tributes to tropical flora and fauna. Silvia Furmanovich has created many one-of-a-kind jewels with palm motifs – and her Botanical collection was inspired by her frequent trips to the Amazon rainforest. In this line you’ll find all manner of exotic plants; from calla lilies and pansies to multicolored rain-forest mushrooms and tropical butterflies manifested in the designer’s signature wood marquetry technique, dappled with gemstones and in an enormous variety of tones.

Silvia Furmanovich 'Botanical' collection earrings with emeralds and wood marquetry in yellow gold

Silvia Furmanovich 'Botanical' collection earrings with emeralds and wood marquetry in yellow gold

 Silvia Furmanovich 'Heliconia' clutch bag from the 'Botanical' collection with emeralds and wood marquetry in yellow gold

Silvia Furmanovich 'Heliconia' clutch bag from the 'Botanical' collection with emeralds and wood marquetry in yellow gold

 Silvia Furmanovich 'Variegata Leaf' earrings from the 'Botanical' collection with rubellites, diamonds and wood marquetry

Silvia Furmanovich 'Variegata Leaf' earrings from the 'Botanical' collection with rubellites, diamonds and wood marquetry

 Silvia Furmanovich 'Sculptural Leaf' bracelet from the 'Botanical' collection with emeralds and  wood marquetry in yellow gold

Silvia Furmanovich 'Sculptural Leaf' bracelet from the 'Botanical' collection with emeralds and wood marquetry in yellow gold

 Silvia Furmanovich earrings from the 'Botanical' collection with pearls, diamonds and wooden marquetry in yellow gold

Silvia Furmanovich earrings from the 'Botanical' collection with pearls, diamonds and wooden marquetry in yellow gold

 Silvia Furmanovich 'Sculptural Leaf' bracelet from the 'Botanical' collection with wooden marquetry in yellow gold

Silvia Furmanovich 'Sculptural Leaf' bracelet from the 'Botanical' collection with wooden marquetry in yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann

Carol Kauffmann is another Brazilian designer whose jewels feature exotic motifs – specifically banana leaves – in her Botanica collection. Again, within the majesty of the Amazonian rainforest, Carol Kauffmann marvelled at the power of Brazil’s nature. “The jungle has a lot to offer and so much to teach, my ‘Botanica’ collection is an homage to this,” says the designer. The jewels in this line are spectacularly unique, with vivid blue, green, pink and purple coloured nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold inserts emerging from behind yellow gold leaves, and embellished in accents of similarly bright gemstones.

Carol Kauffmann 'Banana Leaf' medium earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and rubellites in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann 'Banana Leaf' medium earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and rubellites in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

 Carol Kauffmann 'Banana Leaf' medium earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and 1.20ct iolite in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann 'Banana Leaf' medium earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and 1.20ct iolite in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

 Carol Kauffmann 'Palm' medium earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and tourmalines in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann 'Palm' medium earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and tourmalines in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

 Carol Kauffmann 'Palm' long earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and aquamarines in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann 'Palm' long earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and aquamarines in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

 Carol Kauffmann 'Samambaia' earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and iolites in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann 'Samambaia' earrings from the 'Botanica' collection with diamonds and iolites in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

 Carol Kauffmann 'Botanica' earrings with diamonds in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Carol Kauffmann 'Botanica' earrings with diamonds in nano-ceramic coated silver and yellow gold

Many more brands created jewels which nod to the tropical climate. For example, Jewellery Theatre’s Rainforest collection of unique designs in yellow gold references the majestic colours of a rainforest in the spectrum of gemstones: tourmalines, rubies, tsavorites, moonstones, and coloured diamonds. Suzanne Syz has her own version of palm leaf earrings – named Hakuna Matata – studded with diamonds in a bright green tone of her signature coated aluminium. Beverly Hills jeweller Ricardo Basta engraved a palm tree on the shank of his turquoise cocktail ring, while Nak Armstrong created Bahia Banana Leaf earrings in his signature technique that combines a plethora of custom cut gems, in this instance tourmalines and Peruvian opals. The common thread between all of these very different designers’ jewelled odes to the tropical is abundant and unapologetic colour!

Jewellery Theatre 'Liana' ring with tourmalines, rubies, tsavorites, moonstones, and coloured diamonds in yellow gold

Jewellery Theatre 'Liana' ring with tourmalines, rubies, tsavorites, moonstones, and coloured diamonds in yellow gold

 Jewellery Theatre 'Liana' pendant with tourmalines, rubies, tsavorites, moonstones, and coloured diamonds in yellow gold

Jewellery Theatre 'Liana' pendant with tourmalines, rubies, tsavorites, moonstones, and coloured diamonds in yellow gold

 Suzanne Syz 'Hakuna Matata' earrings with diamonds in aluminum

Suzanne Syz 'Hakuna Matata' earrings with diamonds in aluminum

 Ricardo Besta ring with turquoise and rubies in yellow gold

Ricardo Besta ring with turquoise and rubies in yellow gold

 Nak Armstrong 'Bahia Banana Leaf' earrings in blue Peruvian opal and tourmalines in yellow and blackened gold

Nak Armstrong 'Bahia Banana Leaf' earrings in blue Peruvian opal and tourmalines in yellow and blackened gold

Just in time for the glory of summer, consider adopting this Tropicool jewellery trend to add a vibrant, flamboyant and joyful flourish to any outfit for years to come. Whether or not you are able to lie under palm leaves in the sun, the transformative power of these jewels can take you there in spirit. 

Gemstone imitations: How faceted cuts are reproduced in a variety of jewellery materials

continue reading

In Conversation: Discussing Paraiba — The Legacy of a Color with Vogue Singapore

The conversation encouraged both myself and Kevin Ferreira, my co-author, to recall exactly why we wrote Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color, and I am pleased to share more with you below

by Katerina Perez

Semi-Precious vs Precious Gemstones: Why the Old Labels No Longer Work

I can’t count the number of times I’ve asked myself: what really sets so-called precious and semi-precious stonesapart? Is it their rarity? Colour? Durability? Value? Or is it simply tradition—an outdated hierarchy we’ve inherited without question

by Katerina Perez

Larger than Life: New Mineral Masterpieces and Global Adventures with Margot McKinney 

Let’s take a closer look at the pieces and places that have helped to shape the Margot McKinney brand over the last 12 months, including the rather sensational Marina, Aurora and Bloem necklaces

by Katerina Perez

Male Adornment: The Evolution of Men’s Jewellery from the 1400s Until Today

Men's jewellery is often overlooked, yet its history is both rich and cyclical. Over the past six centuries, the popularity of male adornments has fluctuated, reflecting shifts in fashion, status, and cultural values. Here, Amanda Triossi examines the reasons behind male jewellery, along with its periods of abundance and decline.

by Amanda Triossi

Perfect Proposal: The Top 10 Engagement Ring Mistakes to Avoid 

The moment you start thinking about proposing, everything shifts. Ordinary things become significant: dinner out, a walk in the park, a glance at their jewellery box. And then comes "the ring": a symbol of love, yes, but also a silent spokesperson for everything you feel and hope for. No pressure, right?

by Claire Roberts

Couture Show 2025: The Top 10 Debutants Heading to Las Vegas 

The much anticipated Couture Show will return to Wynn Las Vegas from June 4-8, 2025, shining a spotlight on established design talent, new creatives, and international brands that are vying for attention on the global stage. Just like in previous years, I am focusing my attention on the debutants

by Katerina Perez

Designing the Future: Revealing the Winners of the Katerina Perez x Osmium Institute Design Contest

What a ride it has been, witnessing such pure creative energy and original thinking, especially with a material as rare and futuristic as osmium

by Katerina Perez

New Icons: The Latest Collections by Italian Micromosaic Master SICIS 

I was presented with two striking new collections – Icon and Colibrì – that offer different interpretations of the SICIS aesthetic. Below, I want to give you a closer look at these capsule suites and tell you more about the inspirations behind them

by Katerina Perez

Fabulous Fabrications: TAOS Presents a Trio of Watches Inspired by Couture Fashion

Occasionally, beautiful timepieces demonstrating exceptional Métiers d’Art will land on our virtual desks and result in a round-robin series of emails. In the hours after we received insights into the emerging Swiss brand TAOS, almost the entire team had seen the fabric-inspired dials of its latest creations, and we all agreed that an article was […]

by Sarah Jordan

A Century of Sparkle: Celebrating 100 Years of Art Deco at GemGenève

From May 8-11, 2025, visitors to GemGenève can immerse themselves in a showcase of antique and modern jewellery while also experiencing the innovative spirit of the 1920s and 1930s through a photographic lens. Here, I'd like to tell you more about this creative collaboration and introduce you to the brands taking part…

by Katerina Perez

Tailored Perfection: The Best Jewellery Looks of the Met Gala 2025

Not since 2003 has a Met Gala theme focused exclusively on menswear, so we had high hopes for this year’s attendees demonstrating the best of tailored suiting adorned with high jewels. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best ensembles of the evening…

by Sarah Jordan

Legacy of Love: The Dreamlike Jewels of Emirati Designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani

Jewellery is a transmitter of memories and emotions through time, which is something that Dubai-based designer Mariyeh Ghelichkhani knows all too well. During our meeting in Dubai, we spoke about the importance of family, the sweetness of finding joy through creativity, and the ability to translate dreamy visions and deep feelings into wearable pieces…

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Reinventing Royalty:The European-Inspired Luxury Behind Isabel Gemology

I started 2025 with a series of articles titled ‘Jeweller of the Month’ to highlight the true talent among niche designers in the jewellery industry. For May, it is Isabel Delgado, the founder of Isabel Gemology, who I would like to shine the spotlight on.

by Katerina Perez

Jewels Katerina Perez Loves

Continue Reading

Writing Adventures:Co-Authoring the Book

Paraiba: The Legacy of a Color

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.