The Golden Rules: How to Build a Forever Jewellery Collection
Learn how to curate a future-proof capsule of fine jewellery pieces you’ll wear and cherish for life
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The Golden Rules: How to Build a Forever Jewellery Collection
Learn how to curate a future-proof capsule of fine jewellery pieces you’ll wear and cherish for life
By: George ElliotYou’ve no doubt heard of the capsule wardrobe, but what about the fine jewellery equivalent? A carefully considered collection of necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings that you can wear anytime, with anything, and most importantly, forever. As with the former, being swayed by one-wear-wonders is out of the question. So too is being influenced by the season’s biggest trends. Instead, learning how to build a forever jewellery collection requires restraint, strategic investment and easy-to-follow advice from a Liberty expert…
Form the Foundation
The first step towards building the ultimate forever jewellery capsule is seeking and securing the five fundamental pieces every collection needs:
A signet ring
A tennis bracelet
A gold chain
A pair of diamond studs
A set of classic hoop earrings
These beyond basic staples are jewellery box classics and rightly so, considering their unmatched effortlessness and suitability for practically every social eventuality. Induct these perennial essentials into your capsule first and like all solid foundations, they’ll serve you well in the years to come.
Embrace Craftsmanship
It’s vital that the pieces within your forever jewellery capsule have – for all intents and purposes – a limitless lifespan. This, of course, means learning how best to care for your jewellery (different metals and gems come with their own set of requirements) and investing in artisan-made pieces of the highest calibre. Always be mindful of the materials used in a practical sense as there are pros and cons to each. Take gold, for example. The higher the karat, the purer, brighter but also softer the metal will be, meaning more TLC on your part.
Read more: discover the artistry and craftsmanship that goes into every Liberty jewellery collection
Adopt a Minimalist Mindset
In theory, you should be able to pick out any piece from your forever jewellery capsule and wear it with virtually any outfit you can imagine. The trick? Setting your sights specifically for purposefully pared-back jewellery, the kind of throw-on-and-go pieces that’ll instantly elevate an outfit rather than fight for attention, like diamond stud earrings, band rings and link chain necklaces. The sleeker and subtler your jewellery is, the less ‘of a time’ it’ll feel, meaning the capsule you eventually curate will never feel dated.
Be Mindful of Colour
Granted, minimalist jewellery is all about understated elegance but that doesn’t necessarily mean that colour is totally off limits – if you stick to a purposefully restrained palette of ever-appealing shades. Think: sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red and rose quartz pink. If you do decide to embolden your capsule with a little colour, always do so with moderation. If a piece set with technicoloured gems or vibrant enamel catches your eye, you run the risk of erring into maximalist territory, and investing in a piece you might not love forever.
Read more: how Ellis Mhairi Cameron created her eponymous jewellery brand
Think Like a Collector
The pieces to add into your forever jewellery capsule also need to come with everlasting appeal. This might seem like an impossible demand, surely we get bored of everything at some point? But adopt a collector’s mindset of selecting core pieces to build out from and this needn't be the case. First, turn to our Jewellery Hall’s most illustrious ateliers. As legendary tastemakers their creations come with cult-status, meaning they’ll be forever cherished by you (and coveted by others). Then apply a little foresight and invest in the newest generation of need-to-known names like Sia Taylor, Roxanne First and Balint Samad. This might seem like an impossible demand, surely we get bored of everything at some point? But adopt a collector’s mindset of selecting core pieces to build out from and this needn't be the case.
Express Yourself
Besides being practical, a fully functioning forever jewellery capsule should also feel personal, so enhance your collection with a few pieces that say something about you. A signet ring engraved with an initial or insignia not only offers everyday wearability, but will also earn you knowing nods. Configure yourself a charm bracelet, an heirloom-in-the-making you can deck with meaningful mementos and save space in your capsule for a typographical pendant featuring your own initial, of course. Unique to you, these are the kind of sentimental investment pieces you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Read more: find personalised jewellery that's practically made for you
