Will's Notebook in your inbox!

Is Silver the New Gold??

Author

Will Kahn
April 05, 2025

Welcome to the first edition of my newsletter. If you’re here, you probably care about jewelry, watches, and style as much as I do. I just got back from Watches & Wonders in Geneva and am still shaking off the jet lag, so bear with me. Let’s get into it.

Is Silver the New Gold?

Gold just hit a historic high of over $3,000 per ounce—making the price of bold, statement jewelry in gold nearly unattainable. Take the Elsa Peretti Small Bone Cuff: $1,700 in silver, a staggering $20,000 in gold. As a result, designers are increasingly turning to silver, embracing its versatility for larger-scale designs and tapping into new audiences.

Upper East Side jeweler Nina Runsdorf, known for one-of-a-kind high jewelry and large scale diamonds, is celebrating her 20th anniversary with a silver collection—created in collaboration with her daughter, who joined the company from The Row. By remaking her classic pieces in silver, she’s reaching a broader audience and perhaps a younger clientele. Similarly, Juju Vera, a new designer on the scene, has launched a collection of bold, vintage-inspired ‘70s pieces, all in silver, designed with an impeccable eye for the classical design and no doubt with her Gen Z peers in mind. Alison Lou’s viral puffy gold chokers on silk cords have paved the way for her new zodiac collection—both, in silver.

Silver has always had its champions: Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. and, more recently, Sophie Buhai have built major businesses on its chic, sculptural appeal. Now, silver feels more relevant than ever.

Is this the start of a full silver resurgence? The signs are all there.

NINA RUNSDORF: SILVER ANNIVERSARY

Jewelry legend celebrates 20 with a new material.

When asked: Why Silver? heres what Nina said: "Silver was the first metal I worked with, many moons ago when I was a teenager on a bench Upstate that my mother got me. I love it when things come full circle. We're celebrating twenty years of Nina Runsdorf Jewelry - and now with a new generation involved (my daughter Alexa), we've re-made these pieces in silver from the NR Archive.I love the circularity of life - of trends, of time, of objects - and so in this collection we're celebrating exactly that.” 

JUJU VERA: THE NEW SILVER ON THE BLOCK

Vintage inspired pieces by the silver wunderkind

From Juju: “I love using silver because pieces can feel both old world elegant and relics of the past while also modern at the same time. All my pieces are Sterling silver (92.5). I love using silver becaue of the durability and versatility. All my pieces are hand sculpted so it allows me to easily shape, mold, and polish intricate designs.The cool tone when polished can I think can also really complement a wide variety of gemstones. I.e my Athena turquoise collar.”

PETRA SHELL

ELSA PERETTI FOR TIFFANY

The patron saint of silver jewelry never goes out of style

Last year marked 50 years of Elsa at Tiffany. While she passed away in 2021 her designs have never seemed more relevant. These are jewelry’s most iconic pieces and just happen to be available in silver.

SOPHIE BUHAI: THE EARLY ADOPTER

This LA-Based designer has been working in silver primarily since 2015

A FEW MORE

Alison Lou’s Zodiacs
This cool-girl jeweler went viral for her silver cloud letter pendants— her new version: Zodiacs all on silk cords

John Hardy
All the silver jewelry is handcrafted in Bali with exact same care and skill they make the gold jewelry with.

 Elie Top
Elie Top, creative genius and former jewelry designer for Lanvin under Alber, makes the most beautiful haute joallerie, often using distressed silver, amongst more precious materials like diamonds and opals, and gold as well.

  • SEE: Good Night and Good luck and Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway. The two best shows on broadway right now. I may be biased as my boyfriend Scott did the scenic designs for both shows but this is my newsletter so I can say what I want.

  • WATCH: the finale of White Lotus tomorrow. I’m on the edge of my seat. WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN??

  • EAT: on the UES, the hottest new restaurants are opening Chez FiFi and Cafe Commerce both got great marks from NYMAG, Le Veau D’Or is spectacular, but also my secret is the tried and true: Donohue’s.If you never read about the NYC fairytale that happened there read it here.

SO is silver the new gold? NO. But is it gorgeous and chic, easy to wear and easier to afford? YES. Next week stay tuned for my trip to PALM SPRINGS and my favorite watches from Geneva! Please share with your friends who might like this in their in-box too!