From an obsession with oversize drop earrings to gold bracelets and black diamonds, the jewelry trends we spotted at the Late-August award shows packed some serious star power.

Held in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, MTV’s annual Video Music Awards turned the spotlight on bold styles favored by the young and ultra-hip. The next day in New York City, the celebrity world was on display again as the 66^th Emmy Awards honored primetime stars dressed to impress. Examined together, these two events give a good indication of the jewelry trends to watch in coming seasons.

As always, big-name designers like Fred Leighton and Lorraine Schwartz dominated the red carpet at both events, but lesser-known brands such as Beladora, Doves and Ofira Jewels, also had their moments. Here are four standout looks.

Each summer, throngs of tourists flock to New York City to catch a glimpse of Lady Liberty and the Empire State Building - and do some serious shopping. Luxury jewelry and watch retailers in Midtown Manhattan tell us business is booming right now, and many of their prime customers are washing in from foreign shores.

August is a big month in NYC for tourists on summer vacation. If you find yourself in downtown Manhattan on a jewelry shopping spree, here are some spots you won't want to miss in SoHo and the West Village.

SoHo is a fashion lover’s heaven and the place to find everything from big-name brands to small designer boutiques. From local fashionistas in basic black to leather-clad Europeans, the neighborhood’s cobbled streets and old-world architecture provide the perfect atmosphere for all types of trendsetters.

Organic forms and nature in general were the big winners at the JA Show in NYC last week, with both established and emerging designers. It looks like boldly reinvented flora and fauna will continue to rule with jewelry buyers this fall.

What type of jewelry is sizzling hot in 2014? That’s a key question for anyone contemplating which pieces to sell and which to hang onto – or for those of us just looking to stay on top of the trends.

Sadly, we don’t have a crystal ball that prophesies the future of jewelry trends, but as we sweep past the year’s mid-point, we have a solid read on the jewelry that is currently hotter than July. Here are the top trends we're seeing in hot spots around the globe: