There are certain jewelry staples that everyone needs in their collection. When you have a solid set of jewelry essentials on hand, you can always dress your look up or down. Just like having the perfect white t-shirt and little black dress in your closet, having the right jewelry classics in your jewelry box ensures you stay ready for any occasion.
Wondering which classic pieces are true jewelry essentials? Let’s take a closer look at eight versatile jewelry must-haves every wardrobe needs.
Stud Earrings
A classic pair of stud earrings can help you accessorize an endless number of looks. Studs look just as good with athleisure and office attire as they do with a ball gown, so they’ll get plenty of mileage in your jewelry collection.
When it comes to picking out the right pair of classic studs, you have options. Arguably the most popular choice is a pair of diamond stud earrings. Diamond studs are chic, beautifully brilliant, and timeless, so it’s easy to see why they’re a top choice. They’re also particularly versatile, as their bright white colour looks gorgeous with everything.
If you want to go with a non-diamond option, there are also plenty of gemstone studs for you to choose from. You can select studs with your birthstone or a favourite gemstone. If you like the idea of having easy-to-match white studs, you could choose white topaz, white sapphire, moonstone, or pearl earrings. You also don’t have to choose any gemstones for your studs. If you have a more minimalist sense of style, you may prefer studs crafted from pure yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, platinum, or sterling silver.
Hoop Earrings
Hoop earrings are a jewelry classic that can add instant style to any outfit. By donning a pair of hoops, you immediately look put together and ready to take on the world.
Hoop earrings come in different sizes and each size has its own unique style. Huggie hoops and small hoops are pretty and delicate, making them perfect for adding a special touch to casual or upscale looks. Medium and large hoops have a playful, sexy look, so they’re great for when you want to have a bit more fun with your accessories.
Pendant Necklace
A pendant necklace is an incredibly wearable, versatile jewelry classic. One thing that makes pendant necklaces so versatile is the fact that they look perfect with just about any outfit. Whether you’re headed to work or a cocktail party, a pendant necklace is a great companion. Pendant necklaces are also perfect for layering with other necklaces. You can layer a pendant necklace with chokers, chain necklaces, and long necklaces in order to create dozens of custom layered necklace looks.
There are many different pendant necklace styles out there, but if you can only choose one, you may want to go for a more classic jewelry style. A diamond pendant necklace is a great choice (you can never go wrong with a diamond necklace), as is a medallion necklace, an initial necklace, or a solitaire gemstone necklace.
Statement Ring
The statement ring is a fine jewelry must-have that’s loved for its impressive impact. Statement rings, like cocktail rings and chunky geometric rings, are specifically designed to stand out. By adding one of these statement pieces to your outfit, you immediately add a “wow” factor.
Since statement rings are designed to draw the eye, they come in a much wider range of styles than most other jewelry classics. This design diversity offers an opportunity for you to express your personality and explore your unique style preferences. You could wear a colorful gemstone cocktail ring, an abstract modern style, a stately signet ring, a beautifully detailed nature-inspired design, an edgy chain link ring, a glamorous diamond eternity band, and so much more. The possibilities are truly endless.
Statement rings are always great for special occasions, but know that it’s also common to wear statement rings on a day-to-day basis. You don’t have to wait for a dressy event to sport your favorite statement ring. It’s also currently trendy to wear multiple statement rings at once. So, if you’re a ring lover, now’s the perfect time to show off all the gorgeous statement rings you have in your jewelry collection.
Stackable Ring
Stackable rings are classic, stylish, and tons of fun. Stackable rings are meant to be mixed and matched with other rings, so they’re inherently versatile. You can pair them with each other and with more bold rings, like a cocktail ring or your engagement ring.
Plain metal bands are great stackable ring options, but there are also tons of other ring designs that are great for stacking. Delicate diamond rings are perfect if you like a bit of shimmer, gemstone bands are great for those who like a more unique look, and engraved bands are ideal for a vintage lover.
Bangle Bracelet
Bangle bracelets are a timeless jewelry staple. They simply never go out of style. Perhaps that’s because of their versatility. While they’re inflexible in design, bangles are endlessly flexible when it comes to styling possibilities. You can wear them day or night, with casual or fancy dress. It’s all about how you style them.
The most popular type of bangle bracelet is a slim metal bangle, which looks lovely worn alone or when mixed and matched with other thin bangles. But if you have a bold sense of style, consider making sure you also have some intricate bangles or sparkly cuff bracelets in your accessory arsenal to help you stand out from the crowd.
Classic Watch
A classic watch is practical, useful, and fashionable— what’s not to love? A beautiful watch is a perfect everyday jewelry option that you can trust to add extra style to your look. It’s also a fantastic anchor to a bracelet stack you create using bangles, chain bracelets, tennis bracelets, or whatever bracelet styles you’re loving at the moment.
Any watch with a minimalist style can be an excellent choice for your everyday watch. But if you’re thinking of investing in something more luxe, consider going with a quintessential watch classic, like a Cartier Tank or a Chanel J12.
Statement Earrings
A pair of statement earrings is one of the most transformative pieces of jewelry you can own. Statement earrings can immediately take a daytime look into night, ensuring you’re ready to turn heads and light up the town.
When choosing statement earrings for your jewelry collection, you have numerous options. You could go for elegant drop earrings, glamorous chandelier earrings, bohemian tassel earrings, or fun graphic earrings. Which should you choose? Whichever makes you feel the most fabulous.