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Read our privacy notice . Jewellery may be an afterthought for some, but if you’re anything like us, you know it can make or break an outfit. Marriage, birthdays and anniversary outfits are all given the final flourish with a sprinkling of jewels, whether that entails being frosted in clear diamonds, or adorned with gemstones like sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
Earrings can make for especially potent heirlooms. Unlike rings or bracelets, they typically don’t need resizing, making a failsafe gift and meaning they can be worn for generations to come. Naturally, the higher the quality of the jewel, the longer it will last.
Ideally, we would all own 24-karat gold pieces (the purest form of the precious metal), yet such a high karat comes at a high price, which isn’t attainable for the majority of consumers. You are more likely to find 14 to 18-karat gold when searching for high-quality earrings online. The latter 18-karat (75 per cent gold and 25 per cent alloyed metals) is the most traditional mix of gold and other metals and is often used by jewellers to create decadent pieces.
Heritage brands like De Beers, Boucheron, Messika and Graff are home to the most desirable jewels on the market. Pure gold, pla.
