The Duchess of Sussex made her first public appearance in months on Friday at the Invictus Games in the Netherlands, and she seems to have moved on (a little) from the stealth wealth “I’m too serious for fashion” message. The clue? It’s in that ultra fine gold chain criss-crossed on the back of her hand. 

Before you consider that she’s probably in the process of untangling a much-loved necklace, this is no accident. It’s a style statement, one that’s popular with hipsters on both the east and west coasts of the US thanks to the influence of Brooklyn demi-fine jewellery boutique Catbird. 

Its delicate chains, barely-there rings and tiny stud earrings are designed to be almost invisible unless they catch the light. The result is an elegant, low-key look that’s accessible to anyone who wants to try it, so it’s no wonder it caught on. Shoppers can even have a gold chain soldered onto their wrist or ankle, so that there is no clasp; sure, you can’t take it off, but for the most part, wearers are so proud of themselves for tapping into this microtrend before they go to Coachella, they don’t want to.