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Diamonds are a girl's best friend - but not all of them are worth splurging for, a jewellery expert has revealed. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Angela Moore has shared which accessories will make you look elegant, and which ones will tend towards 'tacky' no matter how hefty the price tag.
'When people call jewellery tacky, it is rarely because the idea of the piece is bad,' she explained. 'It is usually about how it's made, styled and sits with the rest of what you are wearing. Jewellery can absolutely be playful, colourful and personal without looking cheap, but it starts to look less polished when it feels forced, too trend-led or like every piece is competing for attention.'
She added that in order to achieve the best choices with your bling, it 'has to have a point of view'. 'That does not mean everything has to be minimal or expensive, but it should feel edited,' Angela said. 'A colourful pair of earrings, a meaningful charm, a bright stone or a touch of sparkle can all look beautiful when they are given space to stand out. Jewellery starts to look tacky when there is no editing, balance or clear reason behind what has been put together.'
Here, she shared the telltale 'tacky' markers to look out for...
AVOID: Large Logos
'Large logo jewellery can date an outfit quickly because the branding becomes the main focus, rather than the design itself,' Angela said. 'Instead of noticing the shape, colour or finish of the piece, the eye goes straight to the name or symbol.'
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: Subtle detail jewellery
Angela shared: 'I'd say a more elegant alternative is jewellery with subtler detail, such as a fine chain, a small pendant, simple hoops or a piece with a discreet motif that feels more personal than performative.'
- Monica Vinader Ring
- Pandora Infinity Knot Ring
- Orelia Bamboo Ring
- Astrid & Miyu Infinite Ring
AVOID: Huge Gemstones
Angela said: 'When it comes to jewellery, sparkle works best when it feels deliberate and not when every piece is competing to be noticed. Jewellery can start to look tacky when the stones are too large, too bright or set in a way that looks more flashy than refined. If you love sparkle, keep it focused.'
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: Jewellery with a gentle shimmer
Angela said that this means that selecting a pair of crystal hoops, a small stone pendant or a bracelet with a subtle shimmer will usually look more elegant than layering several high-shine pieces at once.
- Astrid & Miyu Birthstone Earrings
- Argos Revere Sterling Silver Round Cubic Zirconia Stud Earrings
- Pandora Infinity Bracelet
- Rachel Jackson London Star Earrings
- Orelia Emerald Star Necklace
- M&S Gold Plated Pear End Bracelet
AVOID: Fabric chokers
Period and regency dressing is on the rise - but that doesn't mean you need to rush to accessorise with Victorian style fabric chokers. 'Fabric chokers are always difficult to make look expensive, especially when the ribbon is fraying, the velvet has flattened or the fastening looks flimsy,' Angela warned. 'They can also cut a harsh line across the neck, which can make the whole look feel more dated.'
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: Pendant necklaces
'If you like jewellery that sits close to the neck, a fine chain, a small pendant necklace or a delicate stone necklace will usually look more grown-up.'
- Ottoman Hands Daphne Turquoise Chain Necklace
- Pandora Elevated Heart Key Collier Necklace
- Be-Jewelled Amber Necklace
- Jon Richard Clover Pendant
AVOID: Big, skinny hoops
'Hoops are a classic, but very large, very thin hoops can sometimes look harsh rather than elegant, especially if they overpower the face or feel out of proportion with the rest of the outfit,' Angela said.
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: Huggies or thicker structured hoops
She suggested that a smaller hoop, a huggie hoop or a thicker sculptural hoop can give the same impact in a more polished way.
- M&S Hoop Earrings
- Reformation Mabel earrings
- Orelia Metal Hoop Earrings
- Pandora Round Open Hoop Earrings
- Monica Vinader Deia Earrings
- Astrid & Miyu Hoops
AVOID: Chunky plastic bangles
'Chunky plastic bangles can look less polished because plastic does not usually have the same depth, weight or finish as metal or stone,' Angela warned. 'When the colour is very bright or the surface is overly glossy, they can draw attention for the wrong reasons and make an outfit feel more casual than intended.'
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: A slim bangle or coloured stone
'If you want colour on the wrist, a slimmer bracelet, a coloured stone detail or a well-finished bangle will usually look more refined while still giving the outfit personality.'
- Mint Velvet Gold Bangle
- Radley Jumping Dog Bangle
- Orelia Bracelet
- TUTTI Birthstone Bracelet
AVOID: Faux-stone rings
While cocktail rings can be beautiful, Angela said 'very large faux-stone rings can look less classy when the stone is too big, too glassy or set in a very bright metal'. This is because 'they can quickly dominate the hand and make the rest of the jewellery feel unbalanced'.
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: Smaller gemstones or signet-style rings
'A smaller gemstone ring, a signet-style ring or a simple stacking ring is usually easier to wear and looks more timeless,' she advised.
- Orelia Signet Ring
- Monica Vinader Odyssey Ring
- Reformation Mabel Ring
- Pandora Eternity Circle Ring
- Daisy London Mini Signet Ring
- Monica Vinader Signet Ring
AVOID: Matching sets
'Matching sets can look elegant when they are subtle, but they can start to feel dated when the necklace, earrings and bracelet are all large or highly decorative,' Angela explained. 'The issue is that every piece repeats the same visual weight, so the look can feel flat and overly styled rather than natural.'
WHAT TO WEAR INSTEAD: Keep one piece as the focus
'A more modern approach is to keep one piece as the focus and let the others support it, such as pairing a decorative earring with a simpler chain or echoing the same metal tone without repeating the exact same design.'
