The ultimate luxe jewelry experience, I think, is having one, at most two signature pieces you adore and wear every day, that have been custom-made for you, and only you, according to your very own wishes, from design to each material to the uniquely personal end result
I just had my first fully custom piece made and wholeheartedly agree. It’s my most favorite piece of jewelry I’ve bought.
I can’t agree enough with these comments. Having pieces made specifically for you will combine emotional importance and personal style in a way that no mass manufactured luxury piece can - no matter how beautiful or expensive.
Diamond shrinkage…it’s real! I see posts all the time about this especially with studs, TBs and e-rings. IMHO, get the biggest carat weight, best specs (4 Cs) you can afford. Find a good jeweler, you trust, that offers an upgrade service.
Someone needs to come up with a cure for this disease immediately.
Because it has me in a chokehold! One minute you’re thrilled with a piece. The next you wonder why in the world you “settled” for it and are back to get it’s replacement. So always get the largest, most high quality stones you can afford that also makes sense for the piece and your body size.
And, don’t believe the myth that lesser quality diamonds are ok in earrings, bracelets, etc.
The color, cut, and clarity of stones matter across all pieces you’re wearing. You’ll be frustrated with a sparkly, fiery engagement stone paired with a slightly cloudy or faintly yellow tennis bracelet. At most, I would drop one color and/ or one clarity grade. And, honestly, I don’t even do that anymore. The stone(s) have to be right or I just don’t need the piece
1. Don’t buy costume jewelry. Invest in real gold and good quality materials.
2. Sizing matters. Pay attention to sizing and don’t buy things that aren’t sized to your body. Nothing looks worse than an oversized bracelet or mismatched bracelets of different sizes.
3. Envision what your ideal jewelry collection looks like and work toward that. I like to keep wishlists and I also keep in mind that my pieces need to work together cohesively. I buy only a couple of fine jewelry pieces a year but over time, you will have a good collection.
4. Don’t wear fine jewelry to bed or in the shower. If you take care of your pieces, they will last much longer. If you wear them 24/7, just be mindful that you will have to do repairs and that will cost you to maintain the item.
5. Better save to buy what you truly want, what makes you happy, than to settle for a cheaper version. You’ll still want the expensive one.
Agree with everything said here!! Adding a few other points:
• I prefer non branded fine jewelry to branded. I get larger stones at the same high quality in unique styles for less money. It’s win/win/win/win.
• Buy what works for YOU! I have long hair so I prefer hoops or drop earrings and will never own studs. I looooove bracelets but don’t own/want a watch. I don’t typically like colored stones. But you may have a passion for ear cuffs, chokers and yellow sapphires. Buy those things. Who cares what anyone else likes!
• Buy for love of the piece. Jewelry isn’t an investment.
• Fight me over it but I will
never own lab created diamonds. In alignment with that, much of my collection is derived from preloved stones and estate items to limit supporting this brutal and bloody industry as much as possible. You can easily have preloved stones and settings reworked into your perfect modern piece.