“Pearls are the symbol of timeless elegance, and by far one of the most feminine and surprising gemstone materials available to jewelry makers. They hold such longevity in the jewelry world and their opportunities are limitless: they go well with any style, and can be worn from morning to evening. But try not to wear a pearl necklace with pearl earrings, as it won’t feel modern. Mismatched pearl earrings are always a good call, though; a stud on one side, a drop earring on the ear.”

“Earrings no longer need to be considered or bought as pairs and that freedom is really liberating. If you’re buying for lobe piercings then you’ll want earrings that you can swap out daily, but jewelry worn in other parts of your ear, like the upper lobe or cartilage, tends to be worn continuously and becomes part of you and your aesthetic. When choosing them, consider their beauty and weight; how compatible they are with your complexion and personal style; and how functional they’ll be long-term. If you want to sleep in them, for example, you’ll want a pair of fitted hoops that hug close to your ear. They should also be nickel-free and hypoallergenic.”

“Opals have a high water content so they can’t be left in a dry area without being worn for long periods of time – if you see any small dry cracks within them, don’t buy them. But, because of the water content, they love being worn and the natural oils from your skin will protect them. As they’re fragile, make sure that they’re set well and not worn when doing highly active work – that said, I wear my opal necklace every day.”

“Rule number one when buying any jewelry is to buy what you love, what speaks to you. That way, when you stack your jewelry and continue to add to your favorite pieces, you’ll see they all end up working together. I love that you can continue to add pieces that you collect over the years, and when you wear them all they end up telling a beautiful story.”