What 5 jewelry pieces should a girl in her 20s focus on acquiring?

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#166
I regret now not venturing out of the silvery Tiffany area when I was this age and it is great that you are thinking of acquiring quality items that will last a lifetime!

I know you are on the subject of jewels but I would also suggest a clothing piece like a scarf or wrap, too. I have a LV one and 3 Burberry ones and think that they are classic pieces.
 
#167
I am decades past my 20's but a life long jewelry whore so my advice is to buy the best quality of genuine jewelry you can afford. Don't bother with the costume stuff. Stick with the classic, timeless looks. As you get older, your taste will change & you will move away from the trendy, here today gone tomorrow styles. My list would consist of:
1.) A fine watch/timepiece...expensive but worth it.
2.) Diamond or cultured pearl studs
3.) Diamond tennis bracelet
4.) A strand of classic cultured pearls
5.) A classic style ring in the metal & stone of your choice.
 
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#168
Not sure if I've replied in here already, but here's what I'm thinking today.

The answer depends on what you like to wear. I rarely wear a necklace, so that would be a waste for me.

Focus on classics that you'll wear a lot. I really regret a lot of the novelty pieces I bought in my twenties. And focus on things that would make a good impression if you wore them to a job.

Don't overspend, and don't think you have to buy name brands like Tiffany or Cartier. If you have roommates, don't get diamonds! I see a lot of people recommending diamond tennis bracelets, but in my twenties I can't think of a single time I'd have worn one. Plus there were always odd people wandering in and out of my apartment and spending the night -- real diamonds would have been stolen within a month of my getting them.

Keep all of the jewelry you buy. I have bought/sold/bought/sold basic gold ball studs at least five times! I wish I'd have kept the pair I bought in my twenties, but at some point my hair was long and I wasn't wearing them so I sold them. Now that my hair is short, I'm wearing them again. Ditto for yellow gold versus white gold...I can't imagine going back to yellow gold, but I know it's likely to happen at some point.

All of that long-winded advice aside, here's what I think a woman in her twenties should acquire:

1. Basic everyday studs. Think pearl, gold ball, or a basic shape like knots. If you can afford diamond studs, don't make them too big (over .5 carat would be frowned on in conservative industries like finance, IMO) and make sure you have a way to keep them locked up at home.
2. Basic everyday hoops, 1" or less. Best jewelry advice I ever got was, 'don't wear hoop earrings bigger than a quarter to work.'
3. A watch. Even if you don't usually wear one, you'll need one in job interviews and meetings when you want to be subtle about checking the time. Get something low key and appropriate for the most conservative job you can imagine.
4. Either a ring or a bracelet that can be worn every day. We all like to see our jewelry, and we don't want to look in the mirror all the time, so 'hand candy' is ideal.
5. A subtle necklace that can be worn daily. Something as simple as a chain with a pendant, or a chunky-- but not tacky -- link necklace.

For trendy items, get costume. I'm glad I didn't spend a fortune on chandelier earrings, or funky brooches, when those things were In.
 
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#169
I have read this thread when I started building my collection and I would suggest getting everyday pieces as a top priority. Everyday pieces that would go from day to night, casual to formal. Here are my choices:

1. Pearl stud earrings
2. DBTY necklace
3. Two-tone watch (any brand. Mine is Tissot)
4. Diamond Eternity Ring
5. Gold ball earrings

For fun, I have a Hermes clic H bracelet.
 
#171
if you already have experimented a lot with fun stuff during your teens then I would suggest to focus on classic jewelry (quality over quantity) but if you didn't play with jewelry before, then maybe just have fun until you figure out what you really like (ex.: earrings), and then get a really good one (pair of earrings). But if you really want 5 staple pieces, then I would say:
- Small earrings (pearl, diamond studs, or just plain gold)
- Cartier Love or JUC ring
- A necklace, maybe an alphabet one by Helen Ficalora or something meaningful to you
- A simple inexpensive-not in your face but good quality for price watch (swatch, timex, citizen)
- if you don't wear bracelets everyday, then I'll suggest a Tennis Bracelet for special events and if you do wear bracelets often, I'll say go with a Love or JUC!
Those 5 items to me are stylish and timeless, you can't really go wrong with that.
 
#172
Diamond studs. Get them from whiteflash or another place that has a great upgrade policy.
Necklace - VCA. Maybe a very simple sweet.
Bracelet, maybe Cartier.
Ring - something fun, like a Cartier JUC
watch - classic, preloved Rolex or Cartier
 
#173
You might want to consider what will be functional in the future - I'm in my forties and a professional violinist, so I tend to neglect my necklaces and bracelets. I wear a very nice, very plain metal watch (nice onstage without being flashy or in the way), a heavy gold wedding ring, and earrings (this is where I spend money). My earring collection is the pièce de résistance of my wardrobe, and I've been slowly building it for years.

I still pull out my pearl strands for receptions from time to time, but my job makes much of my jewelry superfluous. It pays to look ahead and be realistic about what you will wear in the years to come before shelling out money you have yet to earn.
 
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#174
I know everyone has written loads on this thread, and it is great we all want to help! Here are my 2 cents to add to the 12 pages of discussion (haha). It has probably been covered over and over anyways.

I'm (at the moment) 29, and I have gone from being a student to working an awesome job to a business owner to being a masters student back to business owner. The thing I would say before I list the items, is to save for your future first, and (maybe if you feel comfortable) seeing a financial planner and setting some good financial behaviours before starting your jewellery journey. Of course this depends on what you want from life and what you find important - which is different from person to person.

I love my jewellery and I have way too much and not enough at the same time. Schrödinger's jewellery box hahaha! If you can, find good condition pieces second hand as this will save you money and let you spread your resources further. I go through stages with second hand jewellery so I know I have some improvements to be made also ahaha!

1) simple, classic, diamond studs, or pearl studs (I wasn't rich so I got pearls and still working on the diamonds, make sure they have good backs so you don't loose them)
2) pearl strand or a diamond solitaire (mine was a pearl)
3) a big fun bracelet - can be silver
4) A pair of drop earrings - can be more design pieces, or with stones in them. Some people have mentioned hoops, personally I don't like these but if they float your boat go for it
5) A ring with a stone in it, more of a classic design. I would say a solitaire diamond or a halo diamond, but my first proper ring was a sapphire with a diamond halo back in 2008. It was the princess Diana style when it was out, and thanks to the Dutchess of Cambridge its back in (haha).

Remember that your health, safety and happiness comes first to anything else. So forgo the jewellery if you prefer to travel or saving for a deposit on a house etc. Travel is the best and in your 20's do as much as possible. Jewellery will always be available, but once time is gone we cant get it back again.

Good luck! Enjoy your 20s! So happy for you! x
 
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#175
I would recommend buying a right hand ring whether that be diamond or gold. Something that you buy for yourself that you look at every day. I would also recommend a piece of designer jewelry if that is what you are into. I think if that is something that is important to you, having a Tiffany or Cartier or what have you not bracelet or ring can feel special. I had a J12 watch, lost it, and realized I am not a watch person haha
Being in my twenties what I wear every day are:
1. RG LOVE bracelet
2. RG JUC ring with diamonds
3. RG Cartier thumb ring
4. RG Tiffany T ring
5. Platinum and diamond bangle
6. White gold daith piercing ring, cause I can't take it out.
 
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#176
I'm 25 and have finally starting growing a decent jewelry collection.
My go to pieces are:
Pearl studs
David Yurman cable bracelet ( I have two. One is silver with pearl tips and the other is gold)
Engagement ring
Diamond halo band on my right hand
Diamond necklace.
 
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