Picking jewelry can be fun and thrilling. But, it can be a little daunting too, especially if you're selecting big ticket items! This article is to assist you choose the perfect piece, whether it is for you or a gift for someone else.



Silver or Gold?

Generally speaking, if you have a skin color that suits warm colors then you should be wearing gold or gold colored items. People with pink complexions or who are very pale would be better suited to silver or silver colored (including titanium or white gold). Very dark people can look equally beautiful in either silver or gold.

Your figure

If you are a larger person, large jewelry will suit you best. Small, delicate jewels are likely to look lost.

On the other hand, if you are a small person, wearing lots of large, bold jewelry could make you look like Mr T!

Think about your way of living

When picking your jewelry you need to think about your lifestyle and what the item is for:

If you plan to wear your jewelry most of the time and you're an active, sporty person....large drop earrings are just going to bother you. If you're selecting something to wear for a special occasion, a substantial claw-set ring would be perfect.

Rings

Rings look fantastic on well manicured hands. If you bite your fingernails, maybe you could utilize buying a gorgeous ring as an incentive to stop the habit!

Some people like to wear just a single ring whereas others like to wear a few at a time. The decision is personal, but try not to go over the top...usually less is more.

Bracelets & Bangles

Bracelets and bangles can look wonderful, but again less is more unless you have very thin arms. If your arms are somewhat 'chunky' you may be better to avoid bracelets as they can be annoying if they're too tight. Most bracelets are a standard size of 7" although it is possible to find 8" length bracelets too.

Necklaces

If you have a long neck you'll find that shorter necklaces look fantastic. Try chokers (16") or Princess (18"-20"). If you have a shorter neck, go for longer length necklaces, maybe try either opera length (30"-36") or a lariat (a long-strand, open-ended necklace usually looped in a knot or used with a slide so the two ends hang free).

Earrings

When selecting earrings you should to think about your face shape. People with circular faces should go for angular shaped earrings, dangly earrings also look good.

People with square and diamond shaped faces look fantastic in round studs and also dangly earrings.

People with oblong shaped faces should avoid dangly earrings as it can make their faces look over-long.

People with triangular shaped faces can wear all styles (lucky you!).

For Brides

Choosing Bridal Jewelry To Suit Your Gown And Veil

When trying on jewelry for your special day you can't really wear your dress in the jewelers! Instead, try to wear a top that is the same color as your gown. If you can, select a top that also has the same (or similar) neckline.

If you are planning to wear your hair up then make sure it is up when you try on the jewelry in the shop.

Start with your necklace. If your gown has a lot of fine detail in the bodice, you'll be better picking a simple design for the necklace otherwise your gown and jewelry will end up fighting with one another. If you have a very simple dress, try something with a large stone or pendant for a dramatic look.

Pearls are a classic choice, but you can always try something different, even with a hint of color to liven things up a bit.

If you are wearing your hair up, choosing dangly earrings can look stunning. But, classic, sparkling diamond studs are hard to beat.

If you are having a veil, you need to treat it as a separate piece of jewelry, especially any clips or headbands that help to hold the veil in place. Try to make sure your jewelry matches for example picking pearls as a central theme to ensure it all matches well.

The best advice is to select one item that you simply love and make that the focal piece. Tie other accessories in using color or style as a theme.

Treat yourself!