If you’ve relied on a few standard pieces of jewelry over your life and never really invested in a true jewelry collection, why not? Like shoes, purses or other accessories, jewelry can be so much more than simple gold watches and diamond tennis bracelets. You can find gorgeous, luxurious pieces that fit your personal style, from the most flashy and extravagant, to the most sleek and minimalistic. Need a little help getting started? Take some advice from the pros at Yamron. Here are 10 steps on how to start your fine jewelry collection
1. Find The Color That Works For Your
Just like different shades of makeup look best on certain skin tones, certain jewelry will look best against your skin depending on whether you have a warm or cool skin tone. Not sure which you are?
Women with warm skin tones generally have darker complexions, brown or green eyes and red or dark hair. Women with cool skin tones generally are paler and have blue or green eyes and blonde or black hair.
- If you have a warm skin tone, you’ll find that your tone matches well with yellow gold.
- If you have a cooler skin tone, you’ll find that silver and white gold match your skin best.
- Rose gold is a safe choice for both tones.
- When it comes to pearl jewelry, things become a little more complicated. Pearls come in a range of hues. Light pearls, such as those with cream or rose tones, work well with cool skin tones. Gold-hued pearls work well with warm skin tones. Both skin tones will find that black and true white pearls are attractive options.
2. Start Searching For Your Style
If you’re fairly new to the world of fine jewelry, you may not really know what’s out there or what you might consider your personal jewelry style. Since fine jewelry is an investment and asset, you want to purchase pieces that speak to who you are, so nailing down what you like and don’t like is important.
Browse through our jewelry selection to discover what you like, flip through fashion magazines and pay special attention to the jewelry and possibly even take a look at some auction websites and catalogues. The more you expose yourself to the world of fine jewelry, the more you’ll discover which options most appeal to you.
3. Do A Little Research
Once you know what you like and don’t like on sight, get a feel for some basic jewelry terminology so you can better seek out those pieces that will fit well in your future collection.
- Do you only prefer diamonds in a certain cut? Know the name of that cut, as well as whether you like “fancy” diamonds (ie, colored diamonds).
- Love pearls? Know the difference between natural saltwater and natural freshwater pearls.
- Do you like vintage jewelry? Know which era of vintage jewelry you prefer, from Art Deco to Victorian (and keep in mind that, over time, these vintage pieces will fluctuate in price, as certain eras go in and out of vogue).
- If you’re particularly interested in designer jewelry, you may want to research signed pieces, as signatures from brands such as Bvlgari and Cartier can increase a piece’s value to an extensive degree.
Look beyond your typical gemstones and precious metals, too, to discover jewelry that makes use of lesser-known, but certainly still fine materials, like this diamond and coral ring.
Overwhelmed? Don’t be! While there’s a lot to learn about the jewelry business, you don’t need to know everything at once in order to build a collection. All you need to know are the basics surrounding the particular piece you’re shopping for at a certain time. And, as always, the Yamron team is here to help and answer any questions.
4. Start With The Basics
Like a pencil skirt or a nice pair of dark denim jeans, there are a few basic pieces of jewelry that you’ll want to invest in as you start your collection. Just like you wouldn’t wear the same shoe with every outfit, you wouldn’t want to wear the same earring style or necklace length with every outfit. For that reason, we recommend investing in a pair of studs, a pair of hoops, necklaces in both short and long lengths, a simple bracelet like a bangle or this Cartier diamond bracelet and a set of layered rings.
But just because these are the basics, don’t make the mistake of thinking they have to be boring. Stud earrings, for example, are so much more than just diamonds on a post. Just take a look at these Tiffany earrings.
5. Add In Statements Pieces
Once you have the basics down, it’s time to start adding in statement pieces. These items — such as a large cuff, an artfully designed diamond ring or a Cartier pin — can take a more minimalistic outfit, such as a simple sheath dress or a women’s suit, to an entirely new level. You may just find that a particularly bold piece becomes your signature item — a piece of jewelry that your friends and acquaintances come to associate with your style.
6. Don't Hesitate To Ask For Advice and Opinions
When you’re working with a professional team like ours at La Maison Yamron, you can rest easy knowing that you’re working with a group of expert jewelry connoisseurs, all of whom have a passion for the art of jewelry. They’re up to date on the latest trends, but also the best investments, so they can help advise you if you’re unsure about a piece or want to know more about a particular brand or designer.
Especially as you’re building your jewelry collection and learning about the industry, don’t hesitate to ask us for advice. We’re here to help.
7. Care For Your Pieces Appropriately
Once you’ve begun acquiring a few pieces for your jewelry collection, you want to ensure that you’re taking proper care of those pieces so that they retain their value (as well as their look!). The Yamron team advise you on how often a piece should be maintained, cleaned and checked for signs of potential damage.
8. Be Patient
Building a jewelry collection takes time. You likely won’t be purchasing your entire collection in one go, or even over the span of a few years. Many women add pieces to their collection over decades. Don’t feel pressured to purchase a large swathe of pieces at once, just to complete a growing collection.
9. Love Your Look
Lastly, above everything else, when building your jewelry collection, it’s important to love all of your pieces. Your jewelry collection should make you smile. If you don’t love a piece, pass it by — and when you do find a piece that makes your heart flutter, be sure to snatch it up before it’s gone.
10. The Yamron & La Maison Team
Are Here To Help
Whether you’ve already started your growing collection with a few signature pieces or you’re just dipping a toe into the waters and doing your research, Yamron is here to help. We’ll assist you in discovering your style, finding the pieces that best fit your look and investing in iconic, luxury pieces that will hold their value for decades.
