We can’t all be experts in everything. Wearing jewellery isn’t exactly uncommon, but it’s not something that everyone does. Even when you do, maybe people tend to give it to you and you’re not used to buying it for yourself. Purchasing jewellery, whether for yourself or someone else, can be a minefield if you don’t really know where to start. There’s a huge array of options in different styles that can be worn in different ways. So where do you even start? If you’re a jewellery beginner, you might feel a little lost. But it doesn’t need to be difficult to find the right jewellery.
Know the Difference Between Different Types
To start with, you need to know the difference between different types of jewellery. There are plenty to choose from, but you can separate most into a few categories. Piercings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings are some of the main types you’ll come across. Then it helps to break things down into smaller categories. If you want to know more about piercings, Piercing Mania has guides to help take you through different styles and where they go on the body. You can learn about different styles of necklaces, from chokers to pendants, and types of rings like signet rings and stacking rings.
Jewellery Materials
Jewellery can be made from a broad range of materials and it helps to understand some of them. You can find precious metals and gems, not-so-precious metals and gems, glass, plastic, and even leather and other textiles. What a piece of jewellery is made from will affect its price and overall value. If you’re looking at fine jewellery, it’s especially important to know about things like gold karat and diamond carat (not quite the same thing). Materials may matter less if you’re just looking at costume jewellery, which is generally cheaper and not necessarily built to last a long time.
Learn About Jewellery Styles
Understanding different jewellery styles is something that can take a long time. Very few people, even those who love wearing jewellery, are true experts. There are so many different styles that have developed over time that it’s difficult to understand them all. But you can start to get a feel for some of the general styles and jewellery from specific design movements. You don’t necessarily need to know the difference between Art Deco and Art Nouveau jewellery, but it helps if you can get a feel for how casual or formal something is.
Look for What You Like
Ultimately, the jewellery you buy should be something you like. You don’t need to know the name of something you’re looking at or what it’s made of to know if you like it or not. The same goes for if you’re buying jewellery for someone else. If it looks like something they would like, that’s what matters. So spend some time browsing jewellery stores or looking at models, celebrities or even just people around you to see what looks good.
You don’t have to be a jewellery expert to shop for jewellery. A little knowledge goes a long way.
