Shell necklaces were once the spoils of my childhood beach holidays. I would spend hours combing the sand for tiny spirals, chipped scallops and anything pearlescent, before carrying my haul home in my pockets. Most were eventually abandoned in my bedroom drawers, though I did often thread the best ones and recite renditions of The Little Mermaid for my grandparents.
Shop the trend:
This summer, seashell jewellery has made its return. Shell necklaces have become the unofficial accessory of Euro summer, turning up alongside the bright colours, lobster-shaped bags and gloriously excessive jewellery currently filling our holiday mood boards.
These are not necessarily the puka-shell chokers worn with halter tops in the early 2000s, either. The latest versions come dipped in gold, suspended from suede cords, mixed with colourful beads or shaped into oversized silver pendants. Shells also appeared across the spring 2026 collections at Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch and Balmain, confirming that fashion has once again answered the call of the sea.
Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images
Moritz Scholz/Getty Images



