Fine jewellery isn’t just something you wear - it becomes part of you and your story. A ring that marks a milestone, a pendant tied to a memory, a bracelet that makes you smile every time you put it on. Collecting fine jewellery isn’t about filling a box with pretty things, but curating treasures that grow with you to become future heirlooms.
Where to Start: Choosing a Theme
There’s no single "right" way to begin. Lots of collectors start with one piece that feels special, then build around styles, eras or gems they love.
Here are a few different approaches to help define your collecting focus:
- Era-Inspired Styles
Design eras can be a wonderful source of inspiration. If you love bold geometry and clean lines, you might be drawn to the Art Deco elegance of our Clara Collection. Prefer hidden meaning and delicate, whimsical details? The Georgiana Collection offers a trove of celestial motifs and delicate everyday pieces. For rich colours and a bold, floral twist inspired by English gardens and Elizabethan symbolism, the Elizabeth Collection brings a regal elegance to modern heirlooms. Often, these styles overlap or evolve - your collection can reflect a mix of influences that feel uniquely personal. - Style Motifs
Collect around themes you're naturally drawn to like floral designs, celestial motifs, or sculptural settings. These create cohesion in your collection without feeling too planned. - Symbolism & Sentiment
Jewellery has always carried hidden messages. Love tokens, lucky charms, birthstones, meaningful engraving, or even acrostic jewellery that spells out secret words in gemstones - these are deeply personal ways to begin a collection. If you've been lucky enough to inherit some jewellery you can also consider reimagining it into something you're more likely to wear. - Favourite Gemstones or Colours
You might be instinctively drawn to a particular colour or gem like the soft cornflower blue of a sapphire. Choosing a signature gemstone or colour palette can give your collection a strong visual identity. This approach also allows you to explore different cuts, gems, and settings while staying true to a look that feels distinctly yours.
What to Look For
Creating a good fine jewellery collection isn’t just about how sparkly a jewel is - it’s about craftsmanship and quality.
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Craftsmanship Counts - How a piece is made makes a real difference to how long it will last and its value over time. Handmade details like balanced proportions, intricate finishes and thoughtful design mark out true quality.
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Gemstone Rarity - Natural, untreated gems or unusual cuts hold lasting appeal. Think alexandrite, Paraiba tourmaline, unheated sapphires or old-cut diamonds.
Our co-founder Chloë Woodmansterne is a qualified gemmologist and diamond grader, and we carefully source every stone with trusted suppliers.
Some Inspiration from Our Own Collections
Jewellery often marks the milestones that shape us. Our co-founder Kayla designed a bespoke ring featuring a lavender-grey spinel and rare colour-changing alexandrites (her birthstone and favourite gem) to celebrate freezing her eggs. It's engraved with "This spark will grow," inspired by a historic ring in the V&A Museum jewellery gallery. She wears it daily as a reminder of strength and hope.
Chloë created a Georgian-inspired, old-cut diamond and star sapphire ring using a star sapphire from her late grandmother's wedding ring for her 30th birthday - one of the first heirloom jewels she ever reimagined for herself. She also wears a rainbow moonstone and diamond ring every day, originally given to her mum for her parents' 20th anniversary, engraved with their names and anniversary date.
We wear these personal pieces alongside our collection pieces, reminding us that jewels don't need to be saved for special occasions - they become special when worn often and with love.
Building a Jewellery Wardrobe
A well-rounded collection balances everyday staples with statement pieces.
Everyday Jewellery
- Stud Earrings - Understated and versatile. Diamonds, coloured gemstones, or a vintage-inspired twist become part of your signature style.
- Everyday Rings - Choose rings that are meaningful and durable enough to wear every day.
- The Signet Ring - A classic that can be made personal through meaningful engraving or gems.
- Versatile Pendant - Worn just as easily with jeans or a cocktail dress, it can be the most loved piece in your collection.
- Bracelet Stack - Collect bracelets you can layer with slim chains and beautiful gemstone details. A great way to add a hint of colour to any outfit.
- Chain Necklace - Perfect for layering or wearing alone; our acrostic necklaces are a beautiful way to carry a hidden message.
Statement Pieces
- Cocktail Ring - A bold ring - whether it's one of our stunning Rose or Target rings or a single striking gemstone - can become the heart of your collection. Style simply elsewhere to let it shine.
- Drop Earrings - Elegant and eye-catching. A pair of gem-set drops can elevate even the simplest outfit. Style with an updo or sleek hair to show them off.
- Convertible Jewels - Transforming pieces like earrings that become pendants or a tiara that converts to a necklace add intrigue and versatility.
Preserving Your Collection
Once you've started curating your own capsule of treasures, it's worth protecting it properly:
Store with Care
Soft-lined boxes, individual pouches, or compartmental trays can prevent scratches and tangles. If in doubt, our handmade leather Aril Jewels boxes are designed with both presentation and protection in mind.
Insurance & Appraisal
If your collection grows, it may be worth getting select pieces insured. Keep original invoices, certificates, and any bespoke documentation safe - these can all help with valuations in future. We recommend using a valuer with specialist experience in fine jewellery to ensure an accurate assessment. Jewellery should be reappraised regularly to keep up with market changes. You can search for valuers through the Institute of Registered Valuers or ask your jeweller for a recommendation.
FAQs on Collecting Fine Jewellery
How do I start a fine jewellery collection on a budget?
Start small. Go for one meaningful piece that you'll wear a lot - like a pendant, ring, or pair of stud earrings - that can be the foundation of your collection. The key is choosing pieces you’ll actually wear and love, rather than following trends. You're always better off spending more on each individual piece than trying to spread your budget across many different pieces.
How should I choose my first piece of fine jewellery?
Think about what feels personal. It could be a gemstone tied to your birthday, a design inspired by history, or something symbolic you want to carry with you. Also think about what you will enjoy wearing everyday - jewellery is meant to be worn and not kept in a box.
Is jewellery really a good investment?
While jewellery isn’t usually a quick-return investment, it can hold or grow in value over a long time - especially when it’s well-made and features rare gemstones. But its real “value” is emotional: a collection of heirlooms that grows more meaningful the longer it’s worn.
Final Thoughts
Your jewellery collection should feel like you. Choose pieces that mean something now and will still bring joy years from today.
At Aril Jewels, we love working with collectors at every stage, whether it’s your first piece or the latest addition to an established collection. Every jewel we make is designed to be worn, loved and made to last.
If you’d like to explore our collections or chat about a bespoke piece to mark a new chapter, we’d love to hear from you.
