Help me update my jewellery game please

[Alittlemorebling]

I’m mid 50s and trying to make an effort to update my clothes in general. I’ve been watching a few stylists who seem to work with middle aged clients and it’s clear that some decent jewellery does lift an outfit.

i’d like to buy a few things, maybe a couple of necklaces suitable for layering, and a bracket or two. I tend to stick with wearing the same gold necklace and generally forget to add anything else so want to make more of an effort.

i’d say my budget is in the range of places like Monica Vinader/Missoma/Astrid & Miyu but are these brands any good? I’ll be visiting London soon so will have an opportunity to have a look rather than just ordering online.

I know some people will always suggest looking at vintage and second hand shops but i don’t really have either the time or confidence to know what I’d be looking for.

thanks for any advice.

I really like the Shaun Leane jewellery and am a similar age to you and suit finer jewellery

I buy mostly silver jewellery and have picked up a few pieces from Carter Gore recently. I like quirky styles and buy second hand too.

lines & current is a gorgeous Irish brand!

imo There really is no need to spend big money on jewellery, my fave shop local to me sells so much really affordable jewellery. You can buy it online too. Even their sterling silver is v reasonable like £40 for a nice bangle.
I did treat myself to some of their gold plated stainless steel jewellery which sounds like it might be exactly the sort of thing you’re after- delicate but easy to layer up and make a statement. Prices are only c £15 for a necklace or bracelet and look loads more expensive
https://www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/miramira-jewellery

I’m quite obsessed with Hey Harper jewellery. Huge variety of designs, reasonably priced plus constant discounts available. Best of all (for me) you can wear them swimming, in the shower, with perfumes, creams etc. as they have a special coating on them.

I have about ten necklaces and several pairs of earrings and I wear them all the time. The packaging is also really cute ☺️

Just looked at hey harper, nice stuff but the miramira I suggested is the same composition (stainless steel with 14 carat gold pvd plating) so can be worn swimming/shower etc just the same but it’s so much cheaper!

Thanks! Just had a look and some of their bracelets look lovely. Very tempting at that price!

I know right?! I bought myself some really nice pieces and dd keeps borrowing them so I’m going to get her a little haul for xmas, in fact I think it’ll make great pressies for a lot of people this year.

Well I'm clearly a basic bitch and I haven't heard of half of the brands referenced! I do love my jewellery and have a pretty huge collection amassed over the years. I prefer silver and sometimes rose gold to yellow gold.

I loved Links of London, now sadly defunct, and my Christmas Eve tradition used to see me peruse their website for their fresh sale discounts! I loved their Sweetie bracelets and probably have at least 10 😢I don't know if you could buy them still on ebay or somewhere.

I've quite a collection of Thomas Sabo, but some of their pieces have got really quite expensive, but they're good quality. I'm not really a Pandora fan but I do have a couple of pieces including a bangle - don't really like their charm bracelets, same with Nomination (though I quite like their earrings).

I've also got quite the collection of watches (nearly all needing batteries lol) ranging from Longines to Bering, Armani and Michael Kors only I don't wear those any more as I think they've got a bit overdone! I love the Bering ceramic watches particularly and have them in several colours.

I've one Monica Vinader pendant and I've actually never worn it. Must dig it out! I like some European brands, like Agatha and Tous and have a few of their pieces. Also love stacking Chlobo bracelets!

I actually have a lot of my collection stashed away in a plastic crate and I don't even remember what is in there! I know I have a lovely solid silver Yves St Laurent heart with aquamarines from 20+ years ago and I really must dig it out and wear it again!

So many fab suggestions, thank you all so much!

@Bouncyballs3 thank you for those suggestions. Your post made
me think and actually I realise I need to wait a bit before investing in anything more expensive until I’m clear what’s right for me. So…. I’m going to spend 50- 60 quid on two or three things and see what works well with the clothes I wear before getting something more expensive. Will definitely have a look at the Miramira things.

Over the years I’ve bought or been given more expensive pieces which just don’t get worn because I realise the bracelet always catches on my keyboard, the necklace doesn’t look right with the necklines I wear etc.

I go to the Asian jewellery shops in Wembley, Manchester, Green street etc and buy the simplest pieces in solid gold.

Monica Vinader etc turns silver easily, the gold wears off. I like the waterproof jewellery brands as it at least doesn't wear off and it's not that different in quality for much less £.

Just Google PVD jewellery to find brand. Atolea and Hey Harper both have some decent bits.

If you want more unique but still affordable prices, look on Wolf & Badger.

Oliver Bonas and Cos both so some good high street pieces too.

I'd go to Grays Antiques and buy real jewellery.
I know you said not antiques but it's right by Bond St station and easy to browse all the stalls and see what you like. Not usually open on weekends.

Otherwise, I like Orelia Luxe which doesn't tarnish or fade and can be worn in swimming pools etc.

The only good thing is that MV have excellent customer service and will replace anything that tarnishes.

Definitely have a look at Cos, @Alittlemorebling. Their jewellery is always entirely of the moment so will make you look up to date. And isn’t an ‘investment’

I looked at the MV website and was astonished at how expensive it was for “costume” jewellery.

Bought a lovely 4 layered necklace from M&S. gold plated for £25 instead. Obviously not an investment piece, but looked awesome with the dress I was wearing. Also buy loads of costume stuff from Aela in Next.

A pp mentioned getting their old jewellery remade (poss Edinburgh connections). I can highly recommend this jeweller in Falkirk. Family business. Everything bespoke.

www.jfcolley.co.uk/

This jewellery is lovely. Can’t believe the prices tbh. Even cheaper than my M&S find!

@Alittlemorebling yeah, it’s just not worth spending a fortune, it’s totally not necessary. Nobody would ever know the difference.
This is where I get all my sterling silver jewellery from too, again it’s extremely reasonably priced. https://www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/chosen-jewellery
They have loads more jewellery on the site (inc a couple of slightly more expensive brands, but still affordable). I spend ages browsing here cos they have so much nice stuff!

Dimanti Per Tutti have really nice jewellery for a reasonable price. I just bought a bracelet at duty free on holiday, but Google says John Lewis stocks them.

www.diamantipertutti.com/shop/category/all-jewelry-bracelets-144

https://rennejewellery.co.uk/
not cheap for silver jewellery but proper solid and I’d say statement

I have two gold rings (my wedding ring and a birthstone one I had done for my 40th) custom-made by the amazing Emilie Bliguet: http://emiliebliguetethicaljewellery.com

I have a beautiful solid silver cuff bracelet that was my mum's—she had it made in the 70s. I also have a traditional silver charm bracelet which I add to occasionally. I don't wear either piece often because they're not practical, and I prefer gold anyway, but they're great with some outfits.

For costume jewellery I wear either vintage (I love Monet brooches) or get Cos and Massimo Dutti things second hand on Vinted (full price they're a bit much for brass).

There's loads of fabulous vintage designer costume jewellery on European Vinted. One of these days I'm going to treat myself to a pair of 90s Christian Lacroix earrings, and go full Eddie Monsoon.

Sézane have nice contemporary designs, but I think Sézane might be some kind of cult—on Vinted there seem to be hundreds of people selling stuff with the tags still on, at full price, sometimes even higher prices than on the original site. I can only imagine they're just selling to other Sézane nutters, and it's all going round and round. Far too much money for costume jewellery anyway.

If you’re short and slight but are looking for statement jewellery to lift an outfit, a good chunky cuff bracelet (tortoiseshell or silver maybe) or large statement watch would help, no necklace, and a stud earring. Or a long-ish large semi-precious stone bead necklace, with a very slim plain bracelet and plain stud earrings. Or go for a massive over the top unusual ring, and bright red lipstick.

Just revisiting this thread because one of the companies I mentioned earlier seems to have launched a cheaper, more affordable “silver” metal (not sterling) range. Saw them on Insta. Customer service has always been good in the past. It’s sort of Lisa Angel but quirkier?

www.theonebuttonshop.com/stock-clearance

A short chunky gold chain looks lovely on top of jumpers. Yes, it’s costume jewellery but when I used to change my necklaces frequently for different looks, it just made sense. I’ve never had an issue with discolouration or tarnishing.

something like this from OB Gold necklace

@TheFormidableMrsC
OOh looks good. I like the look of the advent calendar!