Diamonds by daylight

Somewhere along the way diamonds were filed under "occasion" - saved for weddings, anniversaries, the good drawer. We would gently disagree. The most beautiful way to wear a piece is often the most everyday.

Let one thing speak

By day, restraint reads as confidence. A single pair of studs, or one fine bracelet worn alone, does more than a stack competing for attention. Choose the piece you want noticed, and let everything else stay quiet around it.

Mix the metals, mind the scale

Silver sits happily beside a watch or a slim gold band - the trick is scale, not matching. Keep the proportions close and the eye reads it as intentional. A pendant that lands at the collarbone works with a crew neck; a longer chain suits an open collar and a little more room.

Day to evening, without going home

The quiet advantage of fine jewellery is that it travels through the day with you. Studs worn to a morning meeting need nothing added for dinner - perhaps a second, smaller piece, and the same look simply deepens. That is the point of buying well once: it is ready whenever you are.

Wear it with a white shirt and nothing else. That is the whole look.