When it comes to building a luxury jewelry collection, there are two ways most people go about it: they gather the standard foundation pieces, or they start the Hunt for the Pieces So Many People Covet (that Cartier Love Bangle or VCA Alhambra collection). Whichever route you take, there’s no denying that these jewelry brands—who offer everything from heirloom-set stones and gold chains to charms and talismans carved with cultural symbols—are worth an investment.

Hermes is luxury jewelry collection for its Birkin bag—but it’s its jewelry that’s really getting people’s attention right now. From the coveted gold chain to the bracelet you didn’t even know you needed, its designs are both elegant and rebellious. Bulgari offers a refined approach to fine jewelry, with gold bracelets, diamond rings and gemstone necklaces that’re perfect for red-carpet events.

• Jewelry for Every Occasion: Silver Pieces That Shine

Sarah Gittoes and Robert Sebastian Grynkofki’s collaboration, SARAH & SEBASTIAN, offers a contemporary approach to classic design, using a blend of thoughtful design and technical precision to create their collections. Their delicate pieces, from pearls to opal and diamond rings, reflect global traditions and universal symbols.

Other favorite luxury jewelry designers include sculptural artist Sophie Bille Brahe, who combines fluid lines and innovative settings to showcase pearls and gemstones. Mejuri’s talisman-inspired jewelry—including their bestselling tassel earrings and talisman lockets—is crafted with fair-mined gold and sourced from ethical suppliers. And last but not least, Graff is responsible for some of the most coveted diamonds in the world, with their signature halo-shaped pieces adorning celebrities and royalty alike.