Playing off of this summer's sales flurry in metallic purses and shoes, gold jewelry is being heralded as the hot fashion staple for back-to-school. Gold earrings, bracelets, necklaces and charms are selling in both fashion jewelry and finer jewelry. The earrings are incorporating popular styles such as chandelier and chain drop varieties, while gold bracelets and necklaces are showing up in trendy layering and multiple-chain styles.

The actual chain link varies greatly with everything from herringbone to figaro to snake link items decorating fashionable women. The lengths of the chains are also longer, providing more space to add wooden, stone and beaded accents. Gold is appearing on the high-fashion runways of Dolce & Gabbana and Roberto Cavalli, the shelves of mass retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target and online at Target.com, which has popular styles featured as "boho chic" jewelry.