Don’t discount developing a good relationship with a jeweler and asking whether your heirloom pieces can be restyled into a lighter, airier and more modern look. I firmly believe in utilizing what is in your jewelry box before branching out. In NYC, with a good jeweler and a good tailor, miracles can happen and it’s relatively inexpensive compared to buying high quality new or even estate pieces. However, ive been told by other tpfers located elsewhere (maybe in Europe) that reimagining a piece is expensive, so perhaps it depends on where you are in addition to how much time and energy you have. . . Heavy center stone cocktail rings can be lightened with halos and split shanks and eternity bands; old fashioned dangly earrings can be reset into light as gossamer earrings; and any jeweler can fashion a diamonds by the yard look; pearls can be strung and separated by chain, gemstones, or surrounded by torsades; extra clasps. . . Having said that, pls don’t take apart your heirlooms if you might use them in a few years. . . and feel tremendous regret bc they are irreplaceable.
also, I started with a good deal on large south sea pearls many years ago, but if I was buying pearls for the first time today, I might consider going cheaper and larger. I just learned of something called Edison pearls which I believe are large pearls cultivated in mussels in fun colors (like grey and black and champagne and pink in addition to white) and there are relatively inexpensive semi baroque, fireball and others.
@SmokieDragon has a large Edison strand that she said she could post in the pearl thread this weekend
that I cannot wait to see.
a capsule collection may be different for each individual. Everyone has different priorities.
@papertiger gave me great advice similar to that above In post #82 in the following thread
https://forum.purseblog.com/threads...ura-david-webb-schlumberger-etc.926026/page-6.
Her advice was so good, I jotted it down on a piece of paper and took it with me shopping. Basically, her points were:
1. put all brands you like in a folder
2. think hard about what category of jewelry you wear (she specifically noted that she likes stuff that is easy to do up and feels secure)*
3. don’t buy starter pieces
4. educate yourself about what can rally be worn everyday
5. aftercare (I kind of interpreted this to avoid pink gold but that’s just my interpretation)
* I was interested in a black jade cuff, but the SA said, well, it’s important to put it on while you are sitting on a bed or soft surface and take it off the same way. . . and not put it on in the bathroom where it can shatter when you drop it ) And DH burst out laughing. So I kind of crossed that one off the list
apologies for the length of this post!
watches depreciate like rocks esp without box and papers.
Fashionphile has some good deals on preloved Cartier. Richmonte (owns a bunch of luxury brands like Cartier and Lange) also bought watchfinders a reseller website, Whihc I have not used, but it might be a resource.